CNN likely moving Kaitlan Collins to primetime after Trump town hall

CNN is expected to bump Kaitlan Collins into primetime following a contentious Republican town hall featuring Donald Trump.

The 31-year-old anchor got mixed reviews over her handling of Wednesday’s wild discussion in New Hampshire, where the former president ignored her fact checks, insulted her as a “nasty person” and placated supporters by repeating lies about the 2020 election he lost by 7-million votes.

But according to Variety and Puck, CNN plans to make the 9 p.m. slot a permanent gig for the “CNN This Morning” host.

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The network was quick to support its rising star following Wednesday’s town hall.

“Tonight, Kaitlan Collins exemplified what it means to be a world-class journalist,” CNN said in a statement that called her questions “tough, fair and revealing.”

CNN declined to comment on Collins’ potential move to evenings, which will reportedly be announced soon. She was assigned to the morning anchor desk in November after serving as the network’s White House correspondent. The Alabama native previously worked for the right-wing Daily Caller media outlet, which was launched by disgraced Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Discussions over Collins’ handling of Trump Wednesday began immediately online and carried into the morning when “The View” hosts Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin disagreed on her effectiveness.

Griffin wasn’t pleased that the town hall format allowed the former president to mostly field questions from supportive audience members, but felt Collins did a “masterful job” of pushing back against an avalanche of false claims.

“I don’t think that she was prepared,” Hostin countered.

Griffin, a former Trump administration official, also serves as a contributor to CNN.

MSNBC “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough called CNN’s prime time spectacle “disgraceful on every level.”

CNN’s 9 p.m. permanent spot was left vacant when Chris Cuomo was cut loose in December 2021. He was accused of aiding his brother’s political career and sexual misconduct.