Even seasoned journalists have their off days, and CNN’s Jake Tapper proved it during live coverage from Anchorage, Alaska.
The veteran anchor was reporting on the high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin when a communication hiccup led to an awkward on-air moment.
After a commercial break, coverage returned to New York anchor Anderson Cooper, who attempted to hand the broadcast back to Tapper. Unaware that he was live, Tapper was overheard muttering: “I’m fine, just give me my show back.”
Cooper cracked a smile and quipped: “Your show’s back!” as Tapper scrambled to regain composure and continue his interview with California Senator Adam Schiff.
Technical Glitches Compound the Chaos
The troubles didn’t end there. During questioning about Ukraine’s role in the Trump-Putin talks, Schiff noted that he had “lost” Tapper amid the communication issues.
Tapper, visibly flustered, apologized to viewers: “We’re having real comms problems today… if anybody can hear me, let’s throw it back to New York.”
Earlier in the broadcast, Tapper had another offhand comment caught on hot mic: “Yes, she knows I went to Big Ray’s,” referring to a local Anchorage clothing store.
The Trump-Putin Summit Ends With Little Resolution
The summit itself, lasting over three hours behind closed doors on Friday, concluded with no ceasefire or peace agreement in place to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump acknowledged, “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”
In an unusual move for a bilateral press conference, Trump allowed Putin to speak first, then answered no questions before shaking hands and walking off the stage.
The public appearance lasted just 12 minutes.
Trump Signals Potential Next Steps
After the summit, Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the discussions were “extremely productive”, though one issue remained unresolved.
When Hannity pressed him on the topic, Trump declined to elaborate, saying, “I want to see if we can get it done.”
He did, however, reveal that Putin seemed open to a trilateral summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin Blames Biden, Justifies Ukraine Invasion
During his remarks, Putin flattered Trump by saying his prior assessment of the Ukraine conflict was accurate.
He shifted blame onto President Joe Biden for deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations, rather than addressing the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Putin maintained that the invasion was justified, citing Russia’s security concerns and long-term goals of expanding borders to resemble the former USSR.
Uncertainty Remains About the Summit’s Outcome
Trump entered the Alaska summit acknowledging a 25% chance of failure but floated the possibility of hosting a future three-way meeting with Zelensky if progress was made.
As of now, the next steps remain unclear, and international eyes remain focused on the implications for Ukraine and global security.
CNN has been contacted for comment regarding Tapper’s hot mic incident, which, while minor in the grand scope of global diplomacy, provided a rare and human moment for live television.