Hunter Biden’s fists were itching at a 2018 Super Bowl party, where he cornered CNN’s Jake Tapper with a threat to “knock you out.”
In a glitzy Minneapolis bash packed with celebrities and politicos, Hunter’s meltdown over perceived media slights stole the show, and Tapper’s new book, Original Sin, spills the tea on this clash while dishing on President Joe Biden’s health cover-up, as the Daily Mail reports, telling a tale of elite tantrums and media hypocrisy.
Picture the scene: Super Bowl LII pre-game, 2018, Minneapolis buzzing. Tapper, fresh off a handshake with Kevin McCarthy, strolls toward Hunter Biden. The vibe shifts fast -- Hunter’s not here for pleasantries.
Hunter slung an arm around Tapper, hissing he’d “knock you out” if they weren’t in public. Was it CNN’s coverage of his 2017 divorce and drug scandals? Tapper swears he never touched those stories, but Hunter’s rage didn’t care for facts.
Some whisper Hunter’s beef traced back to a bizarre claim: Tapper allegedly called him from an unknown number to break news of brother Beau’s death. Hunter supposedly told Tapper to “f*** off.” Tapper calls this nonsense, denying he’d ever dial up such a personal tragedy. “I’ve never even had his phone number,” Tapper insists, batting down the rumor mill. Yet Hunter’s Super Bowl showdown was real, fueled by his mistaken belief that Tapper smeared him over drugs and prostitutes. Classic case of shooting the messenger -- erroneously.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Tapper’s book, co-written with Alex Thompson, drops bombshells. Original Sin claims that Biden’s family and aides hid his “serious decline” while pushing a “narcissistic” re-election bid. Penguin’s synopsis doesn’t mince words: Biden’s choice was “shockingly reckless.”
“What you will learn makes President Biden’s decision to run seem self-delusional,” the publishing house teases. Over 200 interviews paint a damning picture of denial and deception. Yet critics smell hypocrisy -- didn’t CNN, Tapper included, play along with the charade?
Tapper moderated the June 2024 presidential debate, where Biden’s rambling on Medicare and taxes tanked his campaign. “Thank you, President Biden -- President Trump?” Tapper cut in, barely masking the disaster. Biden’s verbal flubs sparked bipartisan calls for his exit, and he folded weeks later.
Tapper is no stranger to Biden’s struggles. He moderated a 2020 debate and was among the few left-leaning hosts flagging Biden’s health pre-2024. But when Lara Trump mocked Biden’s stutter in 2020, Tapper pounced: “How do you think it makes kids with stutters feel?”
Defending Biden’s speech while ignoring his decline? That’s Tapper’s tightrope. Commenters on CNN’s story cry foul, accusing him of complicity in the cover-up. “Remove Tapper!” they demand, branding his book a deflection dodge.
Hunter’s baggage -- drug addiction, federal firearms convictions, and a cozy presidential pardon -- hardly helps the Biden brand. Actions have consequences, but not for the first son. His Super Bowl threat now reads like a tantrum from a man allergic to accountability.
Meanwhile, CNN is in turmoil -- 200 staffers axed for “minimal work,” per a senior source. Tapper, reportedly denied a raise, might be feeling the pinch. Writing a tell-all seems a savvy move when your network’s sinking.
Tapper quotes Toni Morrison to justify the tell-all project: “If there’s a book you want to read, you must write it.” Noble, but the timing reeks of opportunism. After years of softball coverage, he’s suddenly the truth-teller?
The MAGA crowd sees through the charade: Tapper’s book doesn’t absolve CNN’s role in propping up Biden. Hunter’s threat may have been a one-off, but the media’s selective blindness is a chronic condition. Time for accountability, not just page-turners.
