{"id":2576103,"date":"2026-03-04T15:15:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karoline-leavitt-and-kaitlan-collins-spar-over-media-bias-on-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:16:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:16:24","slug":"karoline-leavitt-and-kaitlan-collins-spar-over-media-bias-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karoline-leavitt-and-kaitlan-collins-spar-over-media-bias-on-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Karoline Leavitt and Kaitlan Collins spar over media bias on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkaroline-leavitt-and-kaitlan-collins-spar-over-media-bias-on-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576103&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a White House press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins sparred over media bias in coverage of Iran and the deaths of six U.S.service members. Collins pressed Leavitt about Pete Hegseth\u2019s remarks suggesting the press should not overly emphasize the casualties, prompting Leavitt to defend the administration and accuse CNN of bias while insisting the press should accurately report on the operation\u2019s impact against Iran. the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alitos-what-is-a-woman-question-leaves-leftist-attorney-flailing-7\/\" title=\"Alito&#039;s &#039;What Is A Woman?&#039; Question Leaves Leftist Attorney Flailing\">exchange highlighted tensions<\/a> over Trump-era Iran policy and coverage of military sacrifices, including leavitt\u2019s assertion that the press should cover \u201cthe success of Operation Epic Fury\u201d and the Iranian regime\u2019s threats. The piece also notes an upcoming dignified transfer for the fallen service members and links to related Washington Examiner stories.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Karoline Leavitt and CNN&rsquo;s Kaitlan Collins spar over media bias on Iran<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2522812\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>White House press secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karoline-leavitt\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11685\">Karoline Leavitt<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cnn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"732\">CNN<\/a> anchor Kaitlan Collins sparred over War Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth<\/a>&lsquo;s comments against press coverage of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/Iran\">Iran<\/a> conflict and the six U.S. service members who have died since the operation started. <\/p>\n<p>The spat occurred during a Wednesday afternoon press briefing when Collins questioned Leavitt about Hegseth&rsquo;s previous comments seeming to suggest the press should not prominently cover the deaths of U.S. service members.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480626\/trump-attend-dignified-transfer-six-us-members-killed-iran\/\">Trump to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >attend dignified transfer<\/a> of six US service members killed by Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480144\/flooding-zone-hurting-trump-iran-message\/\">&#8216;Too many cooks&#8217;: Is flooding the zone hurting Trump&#8217;s Iran message?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4479758\/trump-reasons-war-iran-nuclear-weapons\/\">Your cut-out-and-keep guide to Trump&#8217;s seven reasons for striking Iran, from nukes to the presidential gut<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the position of this administration that the press in this room and the press across the country should accurately report on the success of Operation Epic Fury and the damage it is doing to the rogue Iranian regime that has threatened the lives of every single American in this room,&rdquo; Leavitt responded. &ldquo;If the Iranian regime had their choice, they would kill every single person in this room.&rdquo;  <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4478372\/trump-eradicates-47-years-feckless-foreign-policy\/\"><strong>IN FOCUS: TRUMP ERADICATES 47 YEARS OF FECKLESS FOREIGN POLICY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The two women then argued over the media bias of CNN after Collins pointed out that Hegseth had <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4479805\/takeaways-iran-hegseth-dan-caine-briefing\/\">complained about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-anti-trump-evangelicals-are-now-silent-on-bidens-cuba-policy\/\" title=\"OPINION: Anti...Trump Evangelicals Are Now Silent On Biden\u2019s Cuba Policy\">front-page coverage<\/a><\/a> of the service members&rsquo; deaths at a press briefing on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s not what the secretary meant. And you know it, you know you&rsquo;re being disingenuous,&rdquo; Leavitt shot back.<\/p>\n<p>Collins began to quote Hegseth verbatim: &ldquo;When a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it&rsquo;s front page news. I get it. The press only wants to make the president look bad.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The press does only want to make the president look bad,&rdquo; Leavitt responded. &ldquo;Listen to me, especially you, and especially CNN and the secretary of defense cares deeply about our war fighters and our men and women in uniform.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He travels all across this country to meet with them, to connect with them, and your network has hardly ever probably reported on that,&rdquo; she continued. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480626\/trump-attend-dignified-transfer-six-us-members-killed-iran\/\">TRUMP TO ATTEND DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF SIX US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED BY IRAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump is expected to attend the dignified transfer for the fallen service members, which Collins noted the press would cover.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We expect you to cover that as you should, Kaitlan, but you and your network know that you take every single thing this administration says, and tries to use it to make the president look bad. That is an objectable fact,&rdquo; Leavitt said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leavitt and Collins clash over Iran coverage bias<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2576104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-7qzlppav1-1772653949445-e1772654840840.jpg?1772636843&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3823,38027,32435,32490,35343],"class_list":["post-2576103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-iran","tag-kaitlan-collins","tag-karoline-leavitt","tag-media-bias","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-7qzlppav1-1772653949445-e1772654840840.jpg?1772636843&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576103"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576103\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576107,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576103\/revisions\/2576107"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}