CNN weighs expanding former anchor Kaitlan Collins’ role as chief White House correspondent: report

CNN is considering naming longtime anchor Kaitlan Collins to the role of chief White House correspondent, according to a report, as the left-leaning network grapples with how to cover the incoming Trump administration.

Collins, who hosts “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” weekdays at 9 p.m., would relocate her New York-based show to Washington, D.C., at least part of the time, Semaphore reported Sunday .

The move, which has not yet been finalized, is currently being discussed by CNN CEO Mark Thompson and his lieutenants, with the hope that it would allow Collins to make full use of her network of resources inside the Trump White House.

However, another veteran TV source, who has worked at rival networks, speculated that CNN – which is cutting its own budget – will move Collins to the White House role and remove her as anchor. first.

“Her ratings are bad,” the source said, noting that Collins is paid $3 million a year. “They probably want to bring him back to D.C. and get him out of the anchor chair.”

Collins’ show, which premiered on July 10, 2023, averaged 629.00 viewers in its first year. But since the election earlier this month, the program’s ratings have hovered between 565,000 and 430,000, according to Nielsen data.

CNN has been looking for ways to cut costs as Thompson looks to grow the network’s digital presence and boost its ratings. In recent months, Chris Wallace, who was earning $7 million a year, was informed that his poorly rated shows would be canceled.

Wallace chose to leave after his agent was told he could stay on as an analyst if he took a massive pay cut.

The network also recently denied raises to Jake Tapper, who makes $7 million, and Wolf Blitzer, who is believed to be making roughly $3 million.

CNN did not return requests for comment.

The reporter covered the first Trump administration for CNN, as well as her previous employer, the conservative Daily Caller news site.

In recent weeks, Collins has reported from West Palm Beach, Fla., near the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound, hosting her show from a nearby event and reporting on the president’s transition efforts.

The 32-year-old star has risen through the ranks at the struggling news network, moving from the role of White House reporter to co-host of “CNN This Morning,” the ill-fated morning show co-hosted by Don Lemon and Poppy. Harlow, both were axed.

Collins managed to sidestep that adversity and land a plum gig, anchoring the network’s all-important 9 p.m. hour and cementing herself as CNN’s “It girl.”

Even with her ties to Trump, Collins could have a hard time walking the tightrope at CNN, which is grappling with how to cover the incoming president.

Thompson said in an internal staff meeting earlier this month that he didn’t want the network to lean into too much anti-Trump coverage ahead of Trump’s four more years in office, the Status newsletter first reported.

He also pointed out that there would be an abundance of important stories outside of the DC bubble that shouldn’t be left out, and that the network needs to strike a balance.