Long before Hunter Biden’s name became tied to courtroom drama and political scandal, there was a tense face-to-face moment that now feels oddly prophetic.
At a glitzy Super Bowl party back in 2018, amid NFL stars, political figures, and celebrities, Hunter allegedly threatened CNN anchor Jake Tapper—something that’s now making headlines thanks to a new book that digs deep into the Biden family’s political chaos.
Hunter Allegedly Threatened to “Knock Out” Tapper at a Star-Studded Party
According to the new book Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, co-authored by Jake Tapper himself and CNN contributor Alex Thompson, Hunter Biden once warned Tapper that he would “knock [him] out” if they weren’t in public.
This bizarre interaction took place at Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis during a pre-game event packed with high-profile guests—including stars from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The moment came after Tapper had just greeted former Congressman Kevin McCarthy and approached Hunter.
Instead of a friendly conversation, things reportedly turned icy.
Hunter wrapped an arm around the CNN anchor and made the threat point-blank, highlighting the long-standing tensions between the Biden circle and certain media figures.
What Sparked Hunter’s Rage? Theories and Denials Abound
So, what made Hunter so angry? There are a couple of competing theories.
Some suggest that he was furious over CNN’s coverage of his personal struggles—particularly drug use and the messy fallout from his 2017 divorce.
Tapper, however, insisted he had nothing to do with those reports.
Another theory claims Hunter held a grudge against Tapper for allegedly being the person who first called him to break the news of his brother Beau’s death.
Tapper strongly denied this as well, stating:
“I’ve never even had Hunter’s phone number.
I would never contact someone’s family during a time like that.”
Nonetheless, Tapper did confirm the Super Bowl confrontation happened—but insisted it was all over misinformation and false assumptions about media coverage.
Book Accuses Biden Team of Cover-Up and Self-Deception
The book, which is already drawing fire, paints a harsh picture of President Biden’s final months in office.
It claims that the president’s health visibly declined, yet his closest allies and even members of the media helped conceal the reality.
Tapper and Thompson argue that Biden’s team was so convinced he was the only one who could defeat Trump again, they ignored the warning signs—and misled the American public in the process.
The authors describe this alleged cover-up as one of the most egregious acts of political self-deception in modern history.
In promotional material, Penguin Publishing didn’t hold back, calling Biden’s decision to run again “shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless.”
CNN Faces Backlash Over Its Own Role in the Biden Narrative
As bold as the book’s claims may be, not everyone is applauding Tapper’s attempt at transparency.
Critics were quick to point out the irony of CNN’s top anchor writing about a “cover-up” that his own network may have been complicit in.
Some online commenters accused CNN of “participating in the fraud,” and others called the book a desperate attempt at deflection.
One reader bluntly said, “Tapper needs to go,” while referencing CNN’s recent decision to lay off 200 staff members amid internal criticism of low productivity.
For many, Tapper’s book is seen as too little, too late from a figure who had a front-row seat to the alleged deception.
A Debate That Changed Everything: Tapper’s Role in Biden’s Withdrawal
The June 2024 presidential debate, moderated by Tapper, became a pivotal moment for President Biden.
His performance—marked by confused ramblings and incomplete answers—sparked a bipartisan push for him to withdraw from the race.
One moment that stood out was when Biden stumbled through a comment on taxes and health care, eventually trailing off entirely.
Tapper swiftly redirected the conversation, saying, “Thank you President Biden—President Trump?” That clip quickly went viral and became symbolic of Biden’s unraveling campaign.
Inside the Book’s Motivation: Tapper Says He “Had to Write It”
In explaining why he co-authored Original Sin, Tapper quoted Toni Morrison:
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
Tapper said that after more than 200 interviews, he and Thompson developed a clear picture of what went on behind the scenes during one of America’s most chaotic election cycles.
And he believes the public deserves to know.
Tapper’s Past Clashes With the Trump Camp Over Biden’s Health
This isn’t the first time Tapper has taken heat for how he’s handled discussions about Biden’s health.
Back in 2020, he cut off Lara Trump during a heated exchange about the president’s mental fitness. After Lara mocked Biden’s stutter, Tapper sternly pushed back, saying:
“How do you think it makes little kids with stutters feel when they see you make a comment like that?”
He reminded viewers that Biden has long battled and overcome a stutter, and he warned against armchair diagnoses, even in the political arena.
The Bigger Picture: Media, Politics, and Personal Feuds Collide
This unfolding story doesn’t just reflect a personal grudge between Hunter Biden and Jake Tapper.
It highlights the broader tensions between politicians and the media—and how those tensions play out both behind the scenes and in front of the cameras.
Tapper’s book pulls no punches in critiquing President Biden and his inner circle, but it also places a spotlight on the role of media institutions in shaping political narratives.
Whether Tapper’s attempt at journalistic redemption will land with readers—or blow back—is something only time will tell.