In the past two weeks, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has made more public appearances on behalf of President Donald Trump's campaign she has for the Trump administration, in yet another violation of the Hatch Act from the Trump White House.
On Friday, McEnany held her first White House press briefing since October 1, where she attempted to justify Trump's refusal to accept defeat in the 2020 election by lying that Trump wasn't extended a peaceful transition of power after his win in 2016.
McEnany went on to take only five questions, including one from Chanel Rion of the far-right One America News Network, before beginning to exit.
CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins attempted to ask McEnany a question, but the White House Press Secretary responded:
"I don't call on activists."
McEnany's attack on Collins' integrity prompted her to issue a stern rebuke as McEnany left the room.
"I'm not an activist and you haven't taken questions since October 1st. And you just took about five, Kayleigh. That's not doing your job. Your taxpayer-funded job."
Watch the tense exchange below.
Kayleigh to CNN's Kaitlan Collins: "I don't call on activists." pic.twitter.com/OKrDhksQW6
— Scott Whitlock (@ScottJW) November 20, 2020
Collins, however, got the last laugh.
In addition to the rebuke she issued to McEnany in the room, Collins called the press secretary out on Twitter for not doing her job.
It's understandable why someone who hasn't done their job — taking questions from reporters — in weeks would confuse someone else doing theirs with activism.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 20, 2020
Collins' colleague at CNN, Jake Tapper, defended her.
.@kaitlancollins is an activist for the truth and for facts. And she will still be in that room after January 20, 2021. https://t.co/HD3A0OKqlf
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 20, 2020
And people applauded her clapback.
The difference between “activism" and “being active" https://t.co/SzYuPtYzc0
— Mary Emily O'Hara (@MaryEmilyOHara) November 20, 2020
Kaitlan for the win every time. https://t.co/ri4TUqTN9x
— Southern Transplant (@MSfishOn) November 20, 2020
Set her straight, Kaitlan. https://t.co/pEgEvw532h
— Barbara RIDIN W/ BIDEN James (@barbjames60) November 20, 2020
Twitter has been the scene of several murders this week... https://t.co/VX8IEEtjIW
— Marie *Is he gone yet?*G⚖💛🐝 (@MarieBGee) November 20, 2020
HEAT https://t.co/kGePrHxmQt
— Matthew Speakman (@speakmanmc) November 20, 2020
And they took her side in admonishing McEnany.
I mean I'd be frustrated too if I was about to lose my job in... about a month. #ByKayleigh https://t.co/y7NKVKM8Df
— Faaiza Rupshi (@frupshi) November 20, 2020
You about to lose yo job, Kayleigh.
And Kaitlan isn't. https://t.co/0feeCNxglP
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) November 20, 2020
Translation: “We don't appreciate being held accountable." https://t.co/04sDXmiQRi
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 20, 2020
The end of this disgraceful administration can not come fast enough https://t.co/WoD123dLRH
— Matt Cahill (@MattCahill22) November 20, 2020
Beginning January 20th, Kayleigh McEnany will no longer be White House press secretary.
@thejenniwren.teamlh.social/Bluesky
@NancyMace/X