President Trump turned a straightforward question about the status of a $1.776 billion weaponization fund into a blistering critique of media coverage during an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday. When Collins sought clarity on whether the fund was active or defunded, Trump stated he would need to consult legal teams and admitted uncertainty about its current status before pivoting sharply toward his criticism of outlets.

During the exchange, Trump denounced CNN and its reporter as part of a broader pattern of targeting his supporters, declaring, “People like you have abused our people so badly.” He specifically targeted Collins, who he claimed was “a former conservative,” adding, “You used to be a conservative. You should be ashamed of yourself.” When she attempted to interrupt, Trump silenced her with the phrase, “Wait a minute, be quiet!”

Trump framed the fund as emblematic of what he described as systemic harm inflicted on Americans by the Biden administration and its allies: “What happened to great people, great American people, the way they were victimized, the way they were savage, you have suicides, they killed themselves.” He accused media entities including CNN and The New York Times of weaponizing lawfare against his supporters, stating such outlets had “abused our people” while pushing policies he labeled harmful—including “open borders,” “transgender mutilation of your children,” and “men playing in women’s sports.”

The exchange concluded with Trump emphasizing that his supporters had been “abused by you and by others, by the Democrats; they’re dumb people.” His remarks underscored a direct confrontation with CNN’s role in what he characterized as years of persecution for those backing him.