White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back Thursday after CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tried — and failed — to paint Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as a political opportunist. Leavitt fired back in true America First fashion, torching the network for what she called “a dishonest, desperate attempt to undermine a woman doing her job with integrity.”

At the center of the dust-up? Gabbard’s recent declassification of key intelligence documents — a move celebrated by conservatives for its transparency, but predictably twisted by left-wing media as a “political stunt.”

Collins suggested on air that Gabbard may be trying to “get back in the president’s good graces,” referencing old tensions between Trump and Gabbard over Iran policy. But Leavitt shut that narrative down fast.

“Tulsi Gabbard has the president’s full confidence — and she earned it,” Leavitt said from the White House podium. “This administration doesn’t operate on loyalty tests. We operate on results. And Tulsi delivers.”

Leavitt then turned her sights on CNN directly:
“This isn’t journalism. It’s political theater dressed up as analysis. Kaitlan Collins doesn’t ask questions — she performs. And the American people are sick of it.”

Gabbard, a former Democrat who left the party after years of criticizing its hard-left lurch, has become one of the most effective voices in Trump’s second-term cabinet. Her document release was seen by many as a direct challenge to the permanent bureaucracy — and a breath of fresh air for those demanding accountability.

But instead of focusing on the content of the release, CNN chose to question Gabbard’s motives — a move that backfired instantly.

“Let’s be honest,” Leavitt said. “This is what happens when the media can’t control the narrative. They attack the messenger. They accuse women of ‘trying to prove themselves’ — because God forbid a strong female leader doesn’t bow to the D.C. echo chamber.”

The press secretary also called out the larger double standard at play:
“When a liberal bureaucrat leaks classified info to hurt a conservative, the media calls them a whistleblower. But when Tulsi Gabbard follows protocol to bring truth to light, suddenly it’s ‘suspicious.’ That’s not just hypocrisy. That’s sabotage.”

Conservatives across social media praised Leavitt’s takedown, calling it “a masterclass in media accountability” and “exactly what we need more of from the White House.”

Even former Trump advisor Stephen Miller chimed in, posting: “Karoline Leavitt just dropped a MOAB on CNN. THIS is how you handle media smears.”

Gabbard herself has stayed above the fray, but her office released a short statement reaffirming her commitment to “truth, transparency, and the American people.”

As for CNN? No apology. No clarification. No correction.

Because in the end, this wasn’t about intelligence documents — it was about control.

And Tulsi Gabbard, backed by Karoline Leavitt and President Trump, just proved they won’t be intimidated by the media machine.

Leavitt closed with a message that sent a clear warning to the corporate press:

“If the media wants to keep pushing lies, we’ll keep pushing back — harder. Because this country belongs to the people. Not the press.”

And judging by the reaction online, the people are listening.