Jake Tapper
Role at the time: CNN anchor, "The Lead with Jake Tapper"
Condemned
Statement summary
CNN anchor Jake Tapper said on-air that Vance's "dirtier" remark "does sound a bit racist."
“Well, I mean, that does sound a bit racist, Ashley.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)CNN transcript, The Lead with Jake Tapper, September 11, 2026: "Trump Urges Supporters To Cheat Like Hell In Midterms" · CNNAired September 11, 2026, 6 to 7 p.m. ET; Politics Lead panel between the [18:35:00] and [18:40:00] markers, beginning when Tapper plays Vance's "dirtier" clip. Davis answers first, then Trent.
CNN's rush transcript of the Politics Lead panel on The Lead with Jake Tapper. After Tapper played Vance's line about being "called racists for noticing that our country was becoming dirtier," Ashley Davis answered first and praised Vance's speech, and Corbin Trent then questioned the logic of the line. CNN labels the text a rush transcript that may be updated.
Why we used this label
Tapper directly characterizes Vance's remark as racist on-air, a clear condemnation of the remark under scrutiny in this case.