President Donald Trump berated CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins and an ABC News reporter on Oct. 21 as they questioned his decision to waive new Russia sanctions.
The Independent reported that Collins asked about the waiver outside the White House. Trump said he could impose the measures whenever he wanted, then told Collins, “You’re a low-IQ person, you’re a dummy, and you work for CNN.”
Trump defended the waiver by saying sanctions during talks to secure Stephen Hubbard’s release would end the negotiations. The Independent reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to free Hubbard at Trump’s request. Hubbard, 74, a U.S. citizen, had spent years in Russian custody after being captured in Ukraine during Russia’s 2022 invasion.
The restrictions were created by legislation Trump signed last month and were due to take effect within days, The Independent reported. Several Republican lawmakers criticized the decision.
An ABC News reporter asked whether the waiver gave Russia something in return for Hubbard’s release. Trump replied, “Are you a stupid person? Who do you work for?” He also criticized ABC after the reporter identified the network, according to The Independent.
The previous day, Trump announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program and clashed with The Independent White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg. The Independent reported that Trump said Americans could receive 1% of government recoveries if reports of fraud in federal programs led to criminal charges. Feinberg asked why someone would use the proposed program instead of the False Claims Act, which The Independent reported can award 10% to 25% of recovered funds. Trump replied, “Because it’s a lot of money.”
