OOPS: CNN’s Angry Jake Tapper Caught On Hot Mic

A humorous but revealing moment surfaced live during CNN’s coverage of President Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin. Anchor Jake Tapper was inadvertently caught on a hot mic, grumbling, “Just give me my show back,” as Anderson Cooper attempted to transition the broadcast back to him. Tapper’s frustration was evident, but Cooper defused the scene quickly by quipping, “Your show’s back.” The brief exchange sparked laughter in the studio, offering a rare glimpse of on-air tension behind the scenes.

The slip-up occurred during “The Lead,” airing from Anchorage, Alaska, where CNN was covering the high-stakes meeting. Tapper was visibly flustered, signaling communication problems that disrupted the show. He later apologized for the technical glitches, saying, “We’re having real comms problems today. I’m sorry about that. If anybody can hear me, let’s go throw it back to New York.”

Tapper wasn’t the only one dealing with distractions. Following the hot-mic moment, he was forced to redirect to Senator Adam Schiff for commentary amid intermittent connectivity issues. Despite the awkwardness, both anchors handled the situation with professionalism and a touch of humor—showing once again just how live news unfolds in unexpected ways.

Behind the scene, this kind of candid exchange highlights that even networks like CNN aren’t immune to everyday broadcast chaos. It lets viewers peek behind the curtain and see anchors reacting in real time—while still keeping the show moving forward.