CNN’s Jake Tapper Praises Harris For Taking ‘Fight’ To Trump: ‘He Took The Bait Almost Every Time’

CNN host Jake Tapper knocked former President Donald Trump’s Tuesday night debate performance as a “4chan post come to life” after praising Vice President Kamala Harris for a strategy that steered the Republican into touting fringe narratives and personal “grievances.”

The debate, held in Philadelphia, saw the two candidates clash on critical topics like healthcare, abortion, and immigration. However, according to Tapper, it was Trump’s emotional and compulsive responses to Harris’s jabs that stole the spotlight.

The host told viewers: “Vice President Harris’s supporters have got to be pleased with her performance this evening. Over and over, she baited Donald Trump into talking about crowd sizes, court cases, Nancy Pelosi, Russiagate, and all his grievances. And he took the bait almost every time.”

Throughout the 90-minute exchange, Trump frequently found himself drawn into personal attacks, often shifting away from policy discussion. Tapper pointed out that Trump’s reliance on online narratives pushed by online MAGA influencers and controversial figures played right into Harris’ hands.

Tapper continued: “He cited Fox hosts as fact-checkers. He invoked Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban as a character witness. It was like a 4chan post come to life. He really took her bait, almost every time.”

Immigration emerged as a flashpoint when Trump referenced a debunked claim from Springfield, Ohio, alleging Haitian migrants were stealing and eating pets, which the moderators quickly fact-checked on him.

In awe, Tapper emphasized: “He said that on the debate stage tonight.”

Concluding his thoughts, he said: “Democrats have to feel good tonight about the trade of Biden for Harris, who showed herself to be a strong candidate. She delivered a strong message. And yes, she prosecuted the case against Trump. She started the debate. She began the debate approaching Donald Trump, shaking his hand at the podium, kind of forcing him to shake her hand, introducing herself, and from that moment on, Dana, she took the fight right to him.”

Watch above on CNN.

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