Washington, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump delivered a no-holds-barred response to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday, pushing back hard as the liberal network’s anchor questioned him over the deportation of a suspected MS-13 gang member now at the center of a Supreme Court battle.
Collins repeatedly challenged the President inside the Oval Office regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador deported last month under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used but still active federal statute dating back to the 1700s.
Trump: “CNN Has No Credibility Left”
As Collins pressed the issue, President Trump turned the focus back on CNN’s credibility.
“Why do you keep repeating the same question? Why not say it’s a good thing we’re keeping dangerous criminals out of our country? That’s why nobody watches CNN anymore — zero credibility,” Trump said, standing beside El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
The fiery exchange came as the Trump administration defended its handling of Abrego Garcia, who they assert has ties to the brutal MS-13 gang — a transnational criminal organization responsible for murders, drug trafficking, and terrorizing American communities for decades.
White House Doubles Down: “He Was Here Illegally”
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller backed the President’s position, stating that Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, had no legal right to remain in the United States.
“He’s an El Salvadoran national, in the country illegally, and believed to be connected to MS-13,” Miller said. “It’s outrageous to expect the United States to tell El Salvador how to manage one of its own.”
He also dismissed claims from left-leaning outlets that the deportation was a “mistake,” clarifying that the DOJ attorney who submitted the incorrect paperwork has since been removed from their post.
Supreme Court Ruling Leaves the Door Open—But No Deadline Set
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the Biden-era deportation be temporarily reversed and instructed the administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. However, the court did not impose a timeline, sending the matter back to a lower federal judge.
Despite pressure from left-wing media, the Trump administration has stood firm, filing court documents stating the U.S. has no obligation to demand that El Salvador release Abrego Garcia from its notorious high-security prison.
Trump’s America-First Message: Protect American Families
The President used the moment to reinforce his America First immigration agenda, criticizing activist judges and media figures who advocate for leniency toward criminal aliens.
“This is what we’re fighting for — safer streets, stronger borders, and keeping violent gang members out of our communities,” Trump said. “Why is that so controversial for CNN?”