Conservative critics online voiced concerns about the professionalism of the CNN interview between Jake Tapper and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance. At several points throughout the tense discussion, Tapper appeared to lose his composure while engaging in heated arguments with Vance around contentious topics.
Conservative commentator Erich Hartmann gave his opinion on the interview, stating in a thread on X, “It’s alarming to see Jake Tapper lose his composure like this. He’s professional for about the first 2 minutes, but then completely disintegrates…” However, he noted that Vance never broke a sweat, keeping his cool and remaining “reasonable.” He added, “JD Vance knows his stuff, and comes across as extremely normal and reasonable here.”
Hartmann further questioned why Tapper was getting argumentative with Vance, departing from journalistic norms to retain composure during such interviews. “Why is Jake Tapper arguing like this?” He pondered whether Tapper had motives to prop up Kamala Harris. “What does misrepresenting the fact accomplish? Is he a Harris surrogate?” he questioned.
Acknowledging that Vance has proven himself as an adept interviewee, particularly with hostile networks such as CNN that hammer him with hard-hitting questions, Hartmann pointed out that Vance would not allow for Tapper to get by with his agenda. “Does he think that Vance is just gonna sit back and let this stuff slide? Did he not do his homework? Tapper defends the Russia Hoax. Full throated. Wow,” he said.
Moreover, Hartmann pointed out that Tapper became unusually emotional for a mainstream media network interviewing a vice presidential candidate. “Jake Tapper acts like he’s personally offended. Why?” he wondered. At many points throughout the conversation, Tapper raised his voice and cut off Vance, even laughing in the Ohio senator’s face after an assertion the host disagreed with.
Furthermore, Hartmann drew on the recent Fox News interview between Bret Baier and Vice President Kamala Harris, where he pointed out that such a departure from composure and respect was not seen. “I went back and looked at the Bret Baier interview w/ Harris, just to make sure I’m not imagining things. But it’s night and day,” he said. “e.g., This section is one where the left specifically claimed Baier was unprofessional, aggressive and unfair. Now compare that to Tapper/Vance.” Other users on social media agreed with Hartman’s sentiment.
Praising Vance’s maneuvering of the questions from Tapper, one person said, “I don’t buy into the premise of what you’re saying, Jake.” This is the way. Stop letting the left set up false arguments and have you try to defend or answer to them.” Another person wrote, ” CNN’s @jaketapper is conceding the 2024 election to Donald J Trump and JD Vance. Tapper is triggered here and it is a result of his own disbelief of his favored parties loss in this upcoming election. Republicans are showing up in such large numbers across the country that the election is too large to steal. He cannot fathom why.”
Watch a clip from the interview below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
