CNN anchor Jake Tapper was caught on a hot mic during live coverage Friday of the summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
While broadcasting from the summit location, Tapper expressed frustration, saying, “I’m fine, just give me my show back,” as colleague Anderson Cooper attempted to hand off coverage to him.
USAToday reports the remark, directed at a producer, was likely due to technical difficulties or a disrupted broadcast schedule. Cooper, in the CNN studio, smiled and quipped, “Your show’s back,” as laughter was heard. The moment went viral, with social media posts on X amplifying the clip, some framing it as Tapper being “angry” or “snippy.”
Ooops CNN hot mic catches an angry Jake Tapper!! pic.twitter.com/VdA9c6mHqw
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 15, 2025
Technical issues persisted, notably during Tapper’s interview with Senator Adam Schiff, who couldn’t hear him, prompting Tapper to apologize on air for “real comms problems” and throw coverage back to New York.
Another hot mic moment captured Tapper saying, “Yeah, she knows I went to Big Ray’s,” referencing a local Anchorage clothing store, adding to the chaotic broadcast. The incident highlighted the pressures of live television during high-stakes coverage, with no evidence of personal tension between Tapper and Cooper despite some media exaggerations.