Kaitlan Collins disclosed what happened as she was replaced on CNN
Kaitlan Collins has disclosed why she was missing from her CNN program on Monday night.
The news anchor, 34, was substituted by fellow journalist Dana Bash, 55, on the October 19 broadcast of The Source. An explanation for Collins’ absence wasn’t initially provided – but on Tuesday, October 20, she clarified that she had been traveling to Paris.

Collins shared on her Instagram Stories that she was exploring the French capital and sampling local baked goods during her break. She also caught Celine Dion’s performance as part of the My Heart Will Go On singer’s Paris residency. This comes as Kaitlan branded the November midterm elections “extremely ugly.”
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One of the photos Collins uploaded depicted her seated on a bench near the Louvre Museum and snapping a picture of a cinnamon roll she purchased from a neighborhood bakery. In the caption, the journalist confirmed she would return to broadcasting at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, but admitted she couldn’t get the pastry she had in Paris out of her mind.
“Back on air at 9 pm tonight,” she posted. “Still thinking about this cinnamon roll I photographed in front of the Louvre though.”
Collins then shared an image of the cinnamon roll in a cardboard box, followed by several shots of her relaxing at a cafe, with Taylor Swift’s song ‘Paris’ playing in the background.
Collins also stopped by the brasserie Les Fous de l’Ile, known for serving both traditional and contemporary French comfort cuisine. The CNN anchor then posted a selfie from the French capital, followed by footage of Celine Dion kneeling onstage, clutching a bouquet of red roses, accompanied by her song ‘I’m Alive.’
Her final Instagram Story included a message she had shared on Threads, announcing that Sen. Elizabeth Warren would appear on The Source as the program returned from a short break.
This follows Collins seemingly taking a subtle dig at Katie Zacharia on social media after the most recent White House press secretary was dismissed just days into her tenure.
The journalist, who frequently draws criticism from President Donald Trump regarding her reporting on him, posted to Instagram on Friday, October 16, confirming that Zacharia, 41, had been ousted from the press secretary role. Collins shared a CNN article titled ‘Trump fires Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary’ on her Instagram Stories.
The journalist observed, “One week after hiring her, Zacharia is out as press secretary.”
In a late Friday Instagram post, Zacharia appeared to refer to her position in the past tense and characterized Trump as “a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man.”
The mother of four, who was announced as Karoline Leavitt’s replacement on October 9, began her role on Monday, October 12, and held her inaugural – and last – press briefing on Tuesday, October 13. She faced immediate backlash after appearing uncomfortable at the podium, delivering halting remarks lauding the president and his accomplishments.
Her 14-minute briefing sparked controversy after it was revealed that the conservative commentator had consistently presented herself as an attorney despite never having passed the bar exam or obtaining the necessary qualifications to practice law.
During a discussion with reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump disclosed that he had suggested to Zacharia that she might wish to reconsider the role, asserting that she had been subjected to unjust treatment by the press.
