CNN host laughs on air at White House explanation for Republican midterm losses
Jake Tapper burst into laughter on live television after the White House blamed Republican candidates for the party's disappointing midterm election results.
Jake Tapper burst into laughter on live television after the White House blamed Republican candidates for the party's disappointing midterm election results.
The 57-year-old CNN presenter was covering Tuesday's (03.11.26) elections when his colleague Kaitlan Collins revealed how Donald Trump's administration was reacting to Democratic gains.
Collins explained that a White House official had contacted her to defend the 80-year-old president's campaigning efforts.
The official claimed Trump had done more to promote several Republican candidates than they had done for themselves.
Collins then read another message arguing that the party had struggled because the president was not personally standing for election.
The official said: "President Trump was not on the ballot, and it's proven that Trump voters show up when he is on the ballot."
Tapper could be heard laughing off-camera before responding: "OK."
Collins pointed out that Trump had spent weeks encouraging supporters to vote as though his own name appeared on their ballot papers.
She also revealed that officials had described the mood inside the White House as "defiant", despite several candidates backed by the president struggling to win their races.
The administration maintained that Trump's determination to challenge Democrats remained unchanged.
The president later offered a similar explanation himself, insisting Republicans would have secured a landslide victory if he had been standing for election.
His comments came as Democrats made major gains in congressional races, with the party projected to regain control of the House of Representatives.
Trump had spent the final days of the campaign urging Republican supporters to turn out, making several appearances to promote his preferred candidates.
The election results left Republicans facing questions about their campaign strategy and the president's influence over voters when he is not personally on the ballot.
