The MAGA mob became enraged when CNN anchor Kasie Hunt shut down an interview with a spokesperson for former Republican President Donald Trump over attacks on Hunt's colleagues.
On Monday's live interview, Hunt asked Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt what was to be expected of Democratic President Joe Biden's performance at the 2024 presidential debate opposite his presumptive GOP challenger and convicted felon, Donald Trump.
Instead of answering the question, Leavitt pounced on an opportunity to insult Jake Tapper, who will be joined by fellow CNN anchor Dana Bash to moderate the June 27 debate.
Leavitt responded:
"Well, first of all, it takes someone five minutes to Google 'Jake Tapper Donald Trump' to see that Jake Tapper has consistently..."
Hunt abruptly cut her off and warned:
"Ma'am, we're gonna stop this interview if you're gonna keep attacking my colleagues."
Leavitt continued to talk over Hunt and said:
"I am stating facts that your colleagues have stated in the past..."
When Hunt realized Leavitt wasn't going to comply, she promptly cut off the interview live on air.
Pro-Trump account MAGA War Room was left fuming and wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"Fake News CNN cuts off @kleavittnh after she calls out Jake Tapper's anti-Trump history."
"CNN is afraid of people knowing the truth."
The brief segment prompted MAGA to have a meltdown and trash-talk CNN.
Following the abbreviated interview on Monday, Leavitt told Newsweek:
"CNN cutting off my microphone for bringing up a debate moderator's history of anti-Trump lies just proves our point that President Trump will not be treated fairly in Thursday's debate."
"Yet President Trump is still willing to go into this 3-1 fight to bring his winning message to the American people, and he will win."
The next day, Hunt reiterated her unwavering stance against disrespectful guests on her news network.
She wrote on X:
"You come on my show, you respect my colleagues. Period. I don't care what side of the aisle you stand on, as my track record clearly shows."
Many social media users applauded Hunt for delivering a masterclass on handling combative spokespeople on the air.
Jake Tapper, who hosts the weekday CNN news show, The Lead with Jake Tapper, has extensively covered Trump throughout the 2016 campaign trail, his term at the White House, and the 2024 election.
Tapper was a frequent target of Republicans and right-wing media claiming he was too critical of Trump.
Per Newsweek, a CNN spokesperson issued a statement that read:
"Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are well-respected veteran journalists who have covered politics for more than five decades combined."
"They have extensive experience moderating major political debates, including CNN's Republican Presidential Primary Debate this cycle."
"There are no two people better equipped to co-moderate a substantial and fact-based discussion and we look forward to the debate on June 27 in Atlanta."
The debate hosted by CNN will air live on Thursday, June 27 at 9pm ET.
@WhiteHouse/X
