US President Donald Trump compared transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Mulvaney, 29, responded via a TikTok video on Sunday, saying she was 'incredibly honored' to be compared to Collins and that being criticized by the administration is 'the greatest compliment of all.' She added: 'To the president, thank you for reminding me that I am more powerful than I even knew.'
Trump also criticized Collins for not smiling, saying 'She never smiles. I said, "Kaitlan, do you ever smile? Smile."' He referred to her WHCA award as a 'fake award' that he deserved. Collins had received the award for her reporting on the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office meeting.
To the president, thank you for reminding me that I am more powerful than I even knew.
Mulvaney said she is 'microchipped into their minds' and being publicly mocked by the administration puts her in the company of 'some of the most brilliant, empathetic people in our world today.' She quoted recording artist Shea Diamond: 'I am America.'
Mulvaney encouraged people to stand up for, support, and love trans and nonbinary people, and to support businesses that hire them. Trump had posted an AI-generated image of Collins's face over Mulvaney's in a Bud Light commercial. Mulvaney's 2023 Bud Light partnership led to a boycott from anti-transgender conservatives.