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

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

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 .

Although CNN has been adamant that it does not want to return to frenzied 24-hour coverage of Donald Trump when he returns to the White House in January, it is considering changing its lineup to better cover the new administration.

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.

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.