CNN’s Jake Tapper Loses It Laughing After Scolding Puppet For Crossing Line During Post-Debate Coverage

CNN anchor Jake Tapper lost it laughing after his post-VP debate coverage turned surreal and included scolding a puppet for crossing the line and mocking Sen. JD Vance’s (R-OH) “Mamaw.”

Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), and Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), met Tuesday night for the one and only vice-presidential debate, moderated by CBS News anchors Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell and simulcast across cable and broadcast news platforms.

During CNN’s Debate Night In America post-debate coverage , Tapper was discussing a Daniel Dale fact-check with colleagues Abby Phillip and Dana Bash — all while fighting a distraction in the background.

After a minute, Tapper invited Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and his creator Robert Smigel into the shot to explain the distraction, and commented “We’re not going to make fun of JD Vance’s grandmother” as he thanked Triumph.

But Smigel had other ideas, and broke Tapper up with another costume:

TAPPER: Those were some fairly stark — I mean, there — in politics, we get used to people fibbing, embellishing, but those were some pretty direct, black is white, day is night, gaslighting examples. The idea that Donald Trump supported a peaceful transfer of power. The idea that Donald Trump tried to save Obamacare.

PHILLIP: Yes, I mean, it’s — it’s too clever by half. It’s just straight up not true.

But that is actually what J.D. Vance is there to do. I mean, he’s there to be the person who can do sort of Trumpism in a way that sounds nice to more people and is more polished.

And in many ways, I mean, talking to many Republicans over the last several months, there are a lot of Republicans who make the case for Trump’s candidacy way better than Trump himself does.

Trump rarely executes these arguments in ways that are coherent. And Vance has been really the only person out there doing it for him.

And tonight, he did it. Look, I think that they kind of both ended up net positive at the end of this. But there were some key moments there that I think Walz sort of let slide and allowed Vance to improve his reputation with voters a little bit.

TAPPER: Just so our viewers — I just want to make sure that people understand. Triumph, you can come over here. Triumph, do want to come? We’re live on CNN.

This is Triumph, the insult dog.

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Just so you know, it’s almost 1 a.m.

TAPPER: This is Triumph, the insult comic, Robert Smigel’s brainchild, and was floating around behind. And I just wanted to make sure people understood.

ROBERT SMIGEL, VOICE OF TRIUMPH THE INSULT COMIC DOG: So, people aren’t — it’s Meemaw. J.D.’s Meemaw.

TAPPER: So, I don’t know that you’re miked. He is miked.

SMIGEL: I’m miked.

TAPPER: All right.

SMIGEL: I’m miked. And you’re stuck with me.

TAPPER: We’re not going to make fun of J.D. Vance’s grandmother, but we do appreciate the comedy — comedy artistry of Robert Smigel and Triumph. Thank you.

SMIGEL: The Hulkster. How about the Hulkster?

TAPPER: And the Hulk — (LAUGHS)

SMIGEL: I’m here to spin for the — for J.D. Vance.

TAPPER: So — so good to see you. Thank you.

SMIGEL: OK.

TAPPER: Back to the topic — back to the topic at hand.

Watch above via CNN’s Debate Night In America post-debate coverage .