On Sunday, CNN's Jake Tapper grilled President Donald Trump's daughter in law and campaign spokesperson—Lara Trump—regarding her past comments on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Tapper asked Lara Trump to elaborate on comments she made earlier this year that many saw as mocking Biden for struggling with a stutter throughout his life.
Trump said:
"I'm supposed to want him to fail at every turn, but every time he comes on stage or they turn to him, I'm like, 'Joe, can you get it out? Let's get the words out, Joe.' You kinda feel bad for him. The problem is that's their front-runner, guys, OK?
Tapper played a clip of a 13 year old boy who spoke at the Democratic National Convention earlier this summer, saying that Biden helped him gain confidence despite his stutter.
Tapper asked Lara Trump how she thought her words would be perceived by kids with stutters.
Watch below.
Asked to explain why she publicly shamed Joe Biden for stuttering, Lara Trump says, "what we see on stage with Joe Biden, Jake, is very clearly a cognitive decline. That's what I'm referring to. It makes me uncomfortable ... I had no idea Joe Biden [struggled with stuttering]." pic.twitter.com/XdaPt48pqC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 18, 2020
She insisted that she hadn't known about the stutter and was focused on the baseless claims that Biden's mental faculties are too declined to be President:
"First and foremost, I had no idea that Joe Biden ever suffered from a stutter. I think what we see on stage with Joe Biden, Jake, is very clearly a cognitive decline. That's what I'm referring to."
Tapper pushed back against the defense, insisting that he believed she was mocking his stutter, and emphasizing that she didn't have any "standing" to diagnose cognitive decline from afar.
Following the tense exchange, Lara Trump's husband—Eric Trump—attempted to best Tapper on Twitter.
.@LaraLeaTrump is a class act and is on 🔥🔥🔥 - @JakeTapper is so angry and smug (which is consistent with the general attitude of @CNN)
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 18, 2020
But the court of public opinion wasn't on his side.
She's very forgiving of large-gummed slow-witted men (so long as they're rich), otherwise, I don't detect any redeeming qualities.
— Two Sheds Jackson (@HowCamJokes) October 18, 2020
You know it was a dumpster fire if Husband-for-hire Eric has to tweet this out.
— Scott Leger (@Scotterybarn) October 18, 2020
Laura a class act?! Seriously??! https://t.co/K1UoMWF18O pic.twitter.com/LEIsli4QuH
— Belkiss Obadia💎 (@BelkissObadia) October 18, 2020
If you need to tweet this, then the interview is an epic failure.
— Wheels (@wheels021) October 18, 2020
Does anybody else find it weird for her own husband to try to gaslight us into believing that Lara Trump is a class act?
I certainly do. pic.twitter.com/FqLNiCHOD0
— Windthin ~ Rebel Scum & Snark Jedi🇵🇷🏳️🌈🌊❄️ (@windthin) October 18, 2020
If she actually had class, the response would have been “I had no idea he has a stutter. Now knowing, I sincerely regret that comment." No class, none.
— Sandy (@sandyjcollins) October 19, 2020
Meanwhile, people commended Tapper for not backing down in his questioning.
Tapper wins the round handily. https://t.co/dJIhpDbPSS
— Mark Banker (@themarkbanker) October 18, 2020
I. Love. Jake. Tapper. “I'm sure it was from a place of concern...we all believe that." 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/oUCjj3Hg89
— Kessie66 (@kirstensheen) October 18, 2020
Watching Jake Tapper call out Lara for her cruelty gives me life https://t.co/49LDaL7TEL
— Mike Unpronounceable Last Name (@mikeresistance1) October 18, 2020