CNN is reportedly considering promoting primetime anchor Kaitlan Collins to the role of Chief White House Correspondent as the network adjusts its strategy to cover the incoming Trump administration. Collins, currently hosting “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” at 9 p.m. weekdays, would likely relocate her show to Washington, D.C., should she take on this expanded role, according to a report from Semafor.
The decision is still under discussion by CNN CEO Mark Thompson and other network executives, who see the move as a way for Collins to leverage her connections within Trump’s White House. However, there is speculation from a veteran TV source that CNN may end up dropping Collins from her primetime slot due to her lower viewership. Her show has averaged around 629,000 viewers in its first year, with ratings slipping to between 430,000 and 565,000 after the recent election.
CNN has been seeking ways to cut costs, which has included canceling shows with poor ratings, such as that of Chris Wallace, who left after being offered a significantly reduced salary. The network also declined to offer raises to anchors Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer.
Collins has covered Trump’s first term and recently reported from Mar-a-Lago during the president-elect’s transition efforts. She joined CNN as a White House reporter and has worked her way up, co-hosting the failed “CNN This Morning” before landing the coveted 9 p.m. anchor position.
Despite her connections to Trump, Collins may face challenges in navigating her new role at CNN, as the network seeks to balance its coverage of the Trump administration. In an internal meeting earlier this month, Thompson emphasized the importance of covering stories outside of the Washington, D.C. bubble, while avoiding a one-sided focus on anti-Trump coverage.