President Donald Trump turned a one-liner at a CNN anchor’s expense into a full two-day media firestorm, kicking things off with a pointed joke at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before doubling down with an AI-generated meme that kept the story burning through the weekend.
The original moment came Friday night at the rescheduled dinner, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins was being recognized with an award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure, honoring her reporting on Trump’s tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump used the occasion to mock the award, take a swipe at CNN, comment on Collins’ appearance, and tell her she should smile more. He capped it off by comparing her to transgender social media personality Dylan Mulvaney.
As originally reported, Trump wasn’t finished after the dinner wrapped. On Sunday, he posted an AI-generated image showing Collins dressed in black, wearing gloves, smiling, and holding a Bud Light can, with several more cans arranged in front of her. The visual was a clear recreation of the promotional imagery that made Mulvaney synonymous with one of the biggest corporate boycotts in recent memory.
That boycott began in 2023 after Bud Light sent personalized cans to Mulvaney as part of a marketing campaign. The backlash was swift and sustained, generating viral moments that included musician Kid Rock filming himself shooting cases of the beer. The episode became a cultural shorthand for the risks brands take when they wade into politically charged territory.
CNN fired back in defense of its anchor. A network spokesperson called Collins an “exceptional, trusted journalist,” citing her knowledge, tenacity, and performance both at the White House and on the anchor desk. The statement made clear that CNN stood behind her “to the fullest extent.”
The meme also put some of Trump’s critics in an awkward rhetorical position. Commenters on X were quick to highlight the contradiction, with one user writing, “Democrats: Dylan Mulvaney is a beautiful woman. Trump: Kaitlan Collins looks like Dylan Mulvaney. Democrats: How dare Trump compare Kaitlan Collins to an ugly man!” Another added, “What’s the problem, I thought you considered both to be ‘beautiful women’?”
Whether intentional or not, Trump managed to keep the story alive well past Friday night, giving both his supporters and his critics plenty to argue about heading into the new week.