A former White House staff member from Donald Trump's first administration said that CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins was regarded as one of the most difficult reporters for the administration to handle during press briefings.

Speaking on CNN's 'NewsNight,' former deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews commented on a recent exchange between Trump and Collins in which the president criticized the reporter after she questioned him about a fund established to compensate individuals involved in the January 6 events and other political allies.

According to Matthews, Collins' persistence and effectiveness as a journalist made both Trump and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany uncomfortable during press conferences.She claimed there were occasions when Collins was intentionally not called upon because officials preferred to avoid answering her questions.

Matthews praised Collins' reporting skills and argued that Trump's repeated criticism of her stems from her ability to ask challenging and well-prepared questions.Matthews also criticized Trump's treatment of female journalists more broadly.She referenced comments in which Trump told women reporters to smile, be quiet, or used derogatory language toward them.Matthews described such remarks as misogynistic and inappropriate, arguing that they have become normalized despite being troubling.She specifically objected to the expectation that female reporters should smile while asking tough questions as part of their professional duties.The discussion highlighted ongoing concerns about the relationship between Trump and members of the press, particularly female journalists.

Matthews concluded by commending Collins for maintaining her professionalism while continuing to ask difficult questions despite public criticism from the president.