Hunter Biden delivered a profanity-laced critique of CNN anchor Jake Tapper on Don Lemon's podcast, calling him a "complete and utter a--hole" and "full of f--king s--t." The remarks came as Biden discussed Tapper's book, "Original Sin," which reportedly covers claims about President Biden's age and health, and alleges that the president's inner circle shielded him from the press.
Biden, who stated he has known Tapper for 25 years, accused the anchor of being a "really poor journalist" and not a "very decent human being." He also referred to Tapper as "the Brick Tamland of his generation," referencing a character from the movie "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
The former first son took particular issue with the book's portrayal of his father's campaign and the alleged shielding of the president. "The way that he [Tapper] has spoken about me, the way he has spoken about my mother, the way he has spoken about my father, the idea that I would tell you — and be full of s--t like everybody else usually is, and say, 'Well, you know, I'd like to respect Jake's long career in journalism and, you know, he's done good things before' — you know what? I don't have to say that. I'm not running for anything," Biden stated.
Tapper's book, co-authored with Axios' Alex Thompson, is said to detail interviews with Democratic insiders who reportedly blame President Biden's decision to step down after a poor debate performance for hindering Kamala Harris's election campaign. The book also allegedly accuses Hunter Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and others in the president's circle of shielding him from the press.
A spokesperson for CNN responded to the comments by stating, "Jake Tapper is a respected journalist and his work speaks for itself. For decades, he has challenged and scrutinized those in power, regardless of party, ideology, or title. That's the job, and he's done it exceptionally well. These comments are frankly ridiculous and shouldn't warrant news coverage."