CNN Condemns the White House’s Attacks on Journalist Kristen Holmes: Here’s What to Know

CNN Senior White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes asks a question to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during the daily press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7, 2025. —Andrew Harnik—Getty Images CNN condemned the White House for launching personal attacks on one of the network’s journalists .

“Kristen Holmes is one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House,” CNN said of its senior White House correspondent in a statement shared on X on Monday.

“This afternoon, she did her job and asked the President of the United States a tough, relevant, and newsworthy question on behalf of the American people.” “Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press,” CNN continued.

“We stand firmly behind Kristen and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms.” The network’s rebuke came after a question that Holmes asked President Donald Trump during an Oval Office event on Monday drew a heated response from Trump and, later, a series of critical posts from the White House targeting the journalist.

“Jon Ossoff said that you’d rather travel with your aide Natalie Harp and build the ballroom than do your job as President,” Holmes asked the President, referring to a comment the Democratic Georgia Senator made during a speech the day before.

“What is your response?” “You mean Pee-wee Herman? Pee-wee Herman lookalike?” Trump replied.

“No, I would much rather do other things.

We’re building a great facility here.

We’re fixing a White House that hasn’t been taken care of.” The event in the Oval Office celebrated a teenage lifeguard who rescued a 10-year-old boy at a beach in Santa Cruz, California, in July.

But it is common practice for journalists present at events like this to ask the President questions about a variety of issues.

Later on during the event, Holmes tried to ask the President another question, this time about whether North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un had asked him to “scale back” American military exercises with South Korea.

Trump didn’t answer her, instead telling her “quiet.” “You’re very disrespectful,” Trump said to Holmes.

“Quiet.” He then asked Holmes which news outlet she was with, to which she replied that she was with CNN.

“Fake news,” he shot back.