Heather McMahan: I mean, at some points, it seemed like the joke was really on us. I think that’s how a lot of people feel. So as a member of the media, I really commend you for staying calm. To be honest, I thank God I didn’t go into journalism. Again, I don’t know.
CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins: I don’t know, it would be interesting to have you in the picture.
HEATHER MCMAHAN: Like my hot shot, sorry, let’s really break this down. I’d love to have you in the briefing room as a guest. Let me know, let me know. I’ll be wearing a full cheetah print suit and questions will pop up.
How do you treat Caroline? I mean, there’s a fine balance because you obviously have to do it because you’re trying to do your job and you have to deal with this government. For example, what kind of person is she?
KETLAN COLLINS, CNN Anchor: Well, I think, you know, I’ve dealt with four Trump press secretaries now, two of them during Biden’s tenure.
So there’s always a natural tension between the media and the press secretary because you’re covering things that they’re trying to spend in the best possible way for their bosses.
You may be asking questions that they may not want to fully answer. So it’s something that’s always been there. I don’t think you should have a good relationship with the press secretary no matter who he is because it’s inconsistent with the nature of your job.
Journalists, you have to show a little hostility because you’re making people feel uncomfortable with your questions. You don’t just ask questions like: Why are you so good? Or list all of your favorite accomplishments, especially if it was a legislator.
I think, I mean, it just changes at the level, I think, when it’s taxpayer funded.
So I think Caroline Leavitt is very similar to Kayleigh McEnany, Sean Spicer, and other press secretaries who have been Trump before her.
That’s a tough job in itself, as Trump considers himself his best spokesman. He’s usually the person you really want to ask questions about because he’ll answer the questions the way he thinks they’ll answer and you know how he really feels about a question.
So, you, I never walked into a briefing room thinking, oh, they’re going to love my questions.
I try to be fair. I think, I never tried to, you know, be a little super hostile or try to ask something. This was definitely an issue when I went in. This is a friendly question.
Obviously when they don’t like my questions it sometimes leads to conflicts. Sometimes I actually think my questions are not as confrontational as the responses sometimes are.
