Jake Tapper Slams Walz For Repeating ‘Gross Smear’ Targeting JD Vance

CNN anchor Jake Tapper criticized governor Tim Walz (D-MN) for repeating a “gross smear” of Senator JD Vance (R-OH) during his first rally after being named as the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Tapper made it clear that he’d prefer to not even discuss the topic at all — an X post making a false and decidedly vulgar accusation involving Vance and a couch — but that he felt as though he had to because Walz had used it to attack the Republican vice presidential nominee.

WATCH:

CNN’s Jake Tapper Revolted By Couch-Sex-Involved ‘Gross Smear’ Of Trump VP Pick Vance: ‘What Happened To We Go High?’ https://t.co/8VaJeevpxM via @mediaite pic.twitter.com/UiiCXIE83M

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“So let me ask you a question because there’s this — I’m hesitant to even bring it up, but this is gross online smear about J.D. Vance involving couches, okay, and the only reason I cite it is because Governor Walz made a reference to it during his introduction speech yesterday,” Tapper opened a panel discussion on Wednesday’s broadcast of “The Lead” with a clip of Walz.

“And I got to tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy. That is, if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up. So —” Walz said with a laugh, adding, “See what I did there?”

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“A clear reference to this gross smear. So I mean, whatever happened to Michelle Obama’s ‘When they go low, we go higher?'” Tapper asked.

Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton responded, saying essentially that he believed that ship sailed long ago. “I think Democrats have abandoned that a long time ago. Look, I get it. Politics is a brutal sport. This is like a boxing match and we’re trying to see if we can get the knockout first and they’re trying to do the same, and let’s see what happens in November, Jake. But I’m not surprised by it.”

Another panelist claimed that Democrats were simply following former President Donald Trump’s lead, saying, “I love Michelle Obama, but she’s not in this race. They’re running against Donald J. Trump who continues to go lower, deeper, more crazy … we’re meeting the energy where it is.”