Tapper/Bash Past Figures Large in Debate

As the highly anticipated Thursday night presidential debate approaches, concerns are mounting over the potential bias of CNN’s co-hosts, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who have previously exhibited a strong bias against former President Donald Trump. Could their influence tip the scales in a crucial face-off against President Joe Biden?

Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, CNN’s co-hosts for the upcoming Thursday night presidential debate, have previously exhibited a noticeable bias against former President Donald Trump during their network appearances.

This bias is significant as it may result in an unfair debate setting where Trump has to contend with the moderators in addition to debating President Joe Biden. "Trump’s real debate opponent on Thursday will be CNN," businessman David Sacks posted on X. Donald Trump Jr. also expressed skepticism, saying, "I’m sure the CNN debate will be fair and unbiased based on all of CNN’s actions for the last 8 years!"

The debate already seems to be favoring Biden. With low performance expectations for the President and rules that benefit him, Trump faces an uphill battle. CNN analysts are set to fact-check Trump immediately after the debate, as noted by CNN Political Director David Chalian in an interview with the New York Times, highlighting the challenge of real-time fact-checking during the debate.

Jake Tapper, known for his critical stance on Trump, has moderated two previous Republican presidential debates, both of which featured Trump and attracted millions of viewers. Despite the high viewership, Tapper remains a staunch critic of Trump. Breitbart News’s John Nolte reported that Tapper "hates Donald Trump."

Here are 15 instances where Tapper has attacked Trump:

1. Suggested Trump was a nightmare: “For tens of millions of our fellow Americans, their long national nightmare is over.”

2. Claimed Trump “continues to lie to the American people” about coronavirus testing.

3. Retweeted a post that called Trump “100% insane.”

4. Shamed Trump upon being hospitalized for the coronavirus.

5. Described Trump’s presidency as a “disaster.”

6. Ran a segment about the alleged shape of Trump’s penis.

7. Questioned the 2016 election by perpetrating the Russia collusion hoax.

8. Suggested Trump tried to kill democracy.

9. Ordered CNN’s control room not to cover Trump live.

10. Claimed Trump was a “rather angry defendant, saying there’s no case here.”

11. Refused to cover Trump live due to “potentially dangerous” content.

12. Suggested Trump was leading the nation “down the drain.”

13. Accused Trump of siding with Russia during the Russia collusion hoax.

14. Said Trump “sided with the enemy” amid Democrat claims of a stolen 2016 election.

15. Ordered Trump to “stop whining” after winning the 2016 election.
    

Dana Bash has also hosted several debates, including the 2019 Democratic primary debate where Kamala Harris confronted Biden on civil rights, and a 2023 Republican primary debate with Tapper featuring Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, though Trump was absent.

Here are 15 instances where Bash has attacked Trump:

1. Accused Trump of “race baiting.”

2. Suggested Trump is sexist.

3. Claimed Trump made antisemitic remarks.

4. Alleged former Vice President Mike Pence’s life was threatened by January 6 rioters provoked by Trump.

5. Said Trump’s coronavirus briefing was “propaganda” after he contradicted his CDC director.

6. Accused Trump of being anti-science.

7. Alleged Trump politicized the pandemic for political benefit.

8. Said it was “unfortunately for America” that the Supreme Court decided to keep Trump on the ballot.

9. Claimed Joe Biden “found his voice” after he attacked Trump’s remarks on George Floyd’s death.

10. Pushed the Russia collusion hoax.

11. Suggested Trump was unpresidential during his tenure.

12. Described Trump’s firing of James Comey as like a scene from “The Godfather.”

13. Accused Trump of “outright lies.”

14. Said Trump appeared to use racist language against Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife.

15. Suggested Trump should apologize for his alleged role in January 6.

CNN defended Tapper and Bash, stating, “Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are well-respected veteran journalists who have covered politics for more than five decades combined. They have extensive experience moderating major political debates, including CNN’s Republican Presidential Primary Debate this cycle. There are no two people better equipped to co-moderate a substantial and fact-based discussion, and we look forward to the debate on June 27 in Atlanta.”