CNN reporter stuns MAGA White House correspondent famed for skimpy outfits with very frank question

Daily Mail​

23-04-2025

CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan spent several days with members of the MAGA media movement this week - and asked one whether she sincerely felt she was a journalist.
The pointed question was posed to Natalie Winters, the White House correspondent and co-host of Steve Bannon 's War Room.
The 23-year-old is one of several MAGA-aligned correspondents now being welcomed to the White House, despite belonging to non-traditional outlets.
O'Sullivan sought to hone in on this new dynamic with a feature for CNN, as Winters and others continue to paint themselves as disruptors.
Others have framed them as a distraction - paving the way for O'Sullivan's frank inquiry.
'Are you a real journalist?' the 34-year-old senior CNN correspondent asked, standing opposite a woman known for wearing provocative outfits to press briefings.
Winters, honing in on how many of her counterparts avoided covering Joe Biden's mental decline until the last-minute, offered a response both she and The Department of Government Efficiency shared to X.
'I'm pretty sure the group of people in there spent, what was it, four years covering for someone who was essentially dead, and that's being charitable in my description,' she said, creating a viral moment in the process.
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CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan spent several days with members of the MAGA media movement this week - and asked one whether she sincerely felt she was a journalist
'So to all those people who are apoplectic over having new media voices, you guys failed - and that's why we're here.'
The barb left O'Sullivan somewhat beside himself, and briefly silent before pressing on with the interview.
He spoke to several others as well, including Real America's Voice Chief White House Correspondent Brian Glenn and LindellTV White House reporter Cara Castronuova - whose boss is My Pillow inventor and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell.
O'Sullivan, at a point, posed the same question to Castronuova, 45-year-old former championship boxer and trainer on The Biggest Loser.
'Do you consider yourself a journalist?' O'Sullivan asked - to which Castronuova responded, 'yes.'
Another pause ensued, after which O'Sullivan attempted to break the silence - before being interrupted by Winters.
WH Correspondent Natalie Winters did not hold back. pic.twitter.com/kkTqNAMCqW
— Department of Government Efficiency News (@DOGE__news) April 23, 2025
'Seems like you took a little pause to process that,' she laughed, again leaving O'Sullivan stumbling over his words.
Winters, at another point, told O'Sullivan that, if it were up to her, she'd 'kick a lot of these outlets out [of the White House briefing room].'
She said of her perceived purpose: 'I view my role here more as sort of reporting on not so much the White House, but really the media.
'Our bias is not to be sycophants for President Trump,' she continued, denying pedaling propaganda for the president.
'Our bias is for our audience, which is the working class of America - the people who want to put this country first.
In a separate feature penned for Politico, Winters billed the relationship between correspondents from outlets like CNN and NBC as old news, and 'new conservative media' as the future.
She frequently posts theories to X, and offers discourse to stir up liberals.
'Spot the Difference Senator Van Hollen posted the picture of him and Kilmar Garcia *without* the margaritas,' she wrote earlier this month on X, referring to two sets of photos snapped of the Maryland politician and alleged MS-13 member.
'If it were up to me, I'd kick a lot of these outlets out.'
Me to @CNN 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1cAxg4nMGb
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) April 23, 2025
Suggesting the senator omitted one photo purposely, Winters was later proven wrong when both it was revealed the salt-rimmed glasses were planted by officials.
'An Easter Egg hunt but we search for illegals instead,' she wrote in another post published Easter Sunday.
In it, she is seen adjusting her hair outside the White House. She's been sharing the exchange between her and O'Sullivan for the past two weeks.
CNN aired the full interview with her and other members of the White House 'new media movement' Wednesday.