CNN is reportedly considering promoting Kaitlan Collins, the network’s primetime anchor, to the position of Chief White House Correspondent. The move comes as CNN grapples with how to cover the incoming Trump administration. Collins, currently hosting “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” weekdays at 9 p.m., would relocate her show from New York to Washington, D.C., part-time, to better leverage her extensive contacts within Trump’s White House, according to a Semafor report.
The potential shift has not yet been finalized, but CNN CEO Mark Thompson and senior executives are reportedly discussing the change. The goal is to allow Collins to deepen her role in reporting on the Trump administration. However, some industry insiders suggest that Collins may lose her primetime anchoring role in favor of this expanded White House position, given her lower viewership numbers. Collins’ show launched in July 2023 and averaged 629,000 viewers in its first year. Since the election, ratings have dropped, fluctuating between 565,000 and 430,000 viewers, according to Nielsen data.
CNN, which is working to reduce costs, has made similar moves recently, such as canceling Chris Wallace’s show after poor ratings despite his $7 million salary. Other high-profile anchors like Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer have also been denied raises, further indicating the network’s push for budget cuts while focusing on its digital future.
Collins, 32, has built a successful career at CNN, first as a White House reporter and then as a co-host of the short-lived “CNN This Morning” before taking the 9 p.m. spot. Her coverage of Trump’s administration, both during its first term and now in the lead-up to a second, has earned her significant attention. In recent weeks, she has been reporting from Mar-a-Lago, breaking news about Trump’s transition efforts.
Though Collins’ ties to Trump could be valuable in her potential new role, CNN executives are also mindful of balancing coverage, as the network wants to avoid overemphasizing anti-Trump narratives. Thompson has expressed a desire for the network to cover a wider range of important stories outside the D.C. bubble while navigating the complexities of Trump’s return to power.
