CNN host Jake Tapper accidentally found himself in an embarrassing on-air slip during the network 15 August coverage President Donald Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Generally, taper anchor Lead From Washington, DC in its regular EST slot. But on Friday, he was broadcast live from Alaska when Anderson Cooper tried to move the broadcast back to him. Unknown to his microphone was hot, the tapper exploded, “I’m fine, just give me your show back,” A comment that suggested irritation with handoffs. Curtis Hawuk, Managing Editor on Conservative Site NewsbucersQuickly clipped and posted exchange on X Cooper, smiling through funny moments, responded with fickleness, “Show’s back!”
So Cringe.
See here:
Ooops CNN Hot Mike holds an angry Jake Taper !! pic.twitter.com/vda9c6mhqw
– Curtis Hawk (@curtishouck) August 15, 2025
Just after the exchange, Taper tried to start an interview with California Democrat Adam Shif. But Shif did not listen to him, replied, “I think I have lost you.” The tapper then addressed the audience and said, “We are having problems with real com today. I am sorry about it. If someone can hear me, let’s throw it back to New York.” Once again, Cooper stepped to stabilize the broadcast, as well as closed “Okay, Jake, thank you very much.” USA Today Later contacted CNN, Cooper and Taper to comment on the incident.
The background for all this was Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska. The high anticipated meeting ended without any concrete peace deal about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tapper has sometimes shown a glow of despair during live programming. A remarkable example came in 2020 state of the Union When he pressed Lara Trump on the comment, he told about the “Women for Trump for Trump” rally about the then candidate Joe Biden. He said about Biden, “Every time he comes on stage and turns to him, I like: ‘Jo, can you get it out. Let’s take out the words.” The taper asked, “How do you think it makes young children feel with stutors when they see that you make a comment like this?” Lara Trump claimed that he did not realize that Biden struggled with a stutter and doubled it, “I think we see on the stage with Biden, Jake, very clearly a cognitive decline. That’s what I am mentioning.” The taper shortened the interview, told her that she was “Not to diagnose someone’s cognitive decline.” He later revealed that he apologized to him for the termination of the exchange.
In May, Publisted Taper and Exios Reporter Alex Thompson original sinA book that investigated Biden’s presidential presidency and pointed to issues of decline in both physical and mental. The book shook the critical pushback, especially among liberals and centralists who saw it unfair or politically inspired. Earlier this year, the tapper was also seen participating in the broadway premiere. Good Night, and Good Luck In New York on 3 April 2025.