Karoline Leavitt Tells CNN’s Kaitlan Collins to ‘Do Her Job’ After Portland Query Backfires – WATCH

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that it was her job to get to the bottom of things rather than to simply accept whatever party line came from the people in power.

While addressing the ongoing situation in Portland, Oregon — following recent Antifa riots where agitators clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers — local police reportedly stood down while independent journalists were caught in the crossfire.

During the exchange, Collins suggested that President Donald Trump’s plan to send in the National Guard was unnecessary.

“I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week. He said that the president’s claims just don’t match up with what’s happening on the ground,” Collins said, asking Leavitt whether she’d spoken to anyone who was in favor of a National Guard presence.

WATCH:

“I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself, because there’s been many members of the press — not the press in this room but independent journalists — some of whom we’ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories,” Leavitt said.

“Because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night. It’s on video!”

“You should play it on your show — you have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience —” Collins started to interrupt, but Leavitt kept going. “You’re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does.”

Leavitt also encouraged Collins to speak directly with Portland residents to learn how they felt about the chaos unfolding on their streets every night.

“These people are not there to peacefully protest, they are there to cause mayhem and havoc,” Leavitt said of the protesters.