Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller reportedly clashed with CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a press briefing in the Oval Office, sparking widespread conversation about the press’s role and the Trump administration’s media relations.
The heated exchange began when Collins questioned the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, which the administration admitted was an “administrative error.” The deportation had already strained U.S.-El Salvador relations, drawing media scrutiny.
Collins pressed Miller on whether the U.S. was interfering in El Salvador’s internal affairs. Miller, visibly irritated, accused her of being conceited and claimed her questioning reflected typical media overreach.
He insisted the U.S. had no authority to dictate how El Salvador treated its citizens, calling the media’s concern unwarranted. His tone surprised many in the room, including Collins, and the confrontation ended in a stunned silence.