By Charles Switzer
3:25pm PST, Feb 20, 2025
Collins Presses Waltz on Trump's Ukraine Comment
During a tense White House press briefing on Thursday, February 20, CNN's
Kaitlan Collins repeatedly pressed National Security Advisor
Mike Waltz on whether he agreed with President
Donald Trump's recent claim that Ukraine "started" the war with Russia.
Collins specifically referenced a 2023 op-ed in which Waltz compared Russia's responsibility for the war to Al-Qaeda's role in the 9/11 attacks.
Waltz avoided directly addressing Trump's comment, instead stating, "What I share the president's assessment on is that war needs to end."
His response sidestepped Collins' question, focusing instead on broader efforts for peace. However, White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt intervened on his behalf leaving Collins shocked.
Here's what happened.
MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
White House Cuts Off Questioning
As Collins attempted to follow up, Leavitt cut her off and shifted the conversation to another reporter.
"You just had two questions, Kaitlan," Leavitt stated as Collins attempted to push for further clarification.
Despite Collins' insistence that she had an important follow-up, Leavitt redirected the discussion, ensuring Waltz did not have to directly confront Trump's controversial assertion.
Waltz's Careful Messaging on Ukraine
Waltz maintained a careful balance in his response, avoiding any outright contradiction of Trump while reaffirming the administration's goal of ending the war.
He emphasized Trump's broader
foreign policy priorities, stating, "This is a president of peace. And who here would argue against peace?"
His comments framed the discussion around diplomacy and negotiations rather than addressing the historical accuracy of Trump's claim.
The White House's Tight Control on Messaging
Leavitt's swift intervention highlighted the administration's determination to control its messaging on Ukraine. By cutting off Collins' questioning, the press secretary ensured that Trump's remarks would not be scrutinized further in real time.
The exchange happened one day after Trump referred to Ukraine leader
Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator."
