Jake Tapper Ripped for Joe Biden 'Save' During Debate

Republicans are lashing out at CNN anchor Jake Tapper for his supposed efforts to "save" President Joe Biden during the first of two scheduled debates with former President Donald Trump.

The Context

Biden, 81, is frequently criticized over his advanced age and propensity for making verbal gaffes while speaking in public. While some of the president's missteps may be explained by the fact that he has had a stutter for nearly all of his life, the criticism has only increased with his age.

Tapper and CNN are also frequently accused by Republicans of harboring an anti-Trump bias, although both Trump and Biden agreed to the conditions of the debate, which include time limits for each candidate to speak, before it took place on Thursday.

What We Know

Biden seemingly lost his train of thought during the debate on Thursday while speaking about his plans for spending money saved by reversing Trump-era tax cuts that he said "benefited the very wealthy."

"We'd be able to wipe out his debt," Biden said. "We'd be able to help make sure all those things we need to do: child care, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system."

"Making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the ... with the COVID, excuse me, with um, dealing with everything we have to with, uh ..." he continued. "Look, if we finally beat Medicare ..."

Tapper, who moderated the debate alongside co-anchor Dana Bash, was criticized by some for cutting the president off just after he mentioned Medicare.

"Thank you President Biden," Tapper said while Biden was seemingly mid-sentence. "President Trump?"

Trump responded with the following: "Well, he's right, he did beat Medicare. He beat it to death, and he's destroying Medicare."

Newsweek reached out for comment to the Biden campaign via email on Thursday night.

Views

"@jaketapper saves Joe Biden again!" former Trump administration official Richard Grenell wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter. "Biden glitched - he was mumbling. A real debate moderator would have jumped on it to 'what did you say?' Jake ends it and saves him."

"Biden's brain glitches, forcing Jake Tapper to step in and save him," the "End Wokeness" X account wrote while sharing a video clip of the moment.

"Insane to see Jake Tapper save POTUS there," @sagesteele wrote. "Biden lost his train of thought - he was lost - and Tapper saved him. SMH."

"This is the moment Jake Tapper stepped in after Biden's brain malfunctioned," wrote conservative commentator Todd Starnes.

While some Trump supporters accused Tapper of attempting to help Biden, the anchor received praise from others for his handling of the debate on Thursday.

"Most impressive people at this debate so far: @JakeTapper and @DanaBashCNN," former CNN host Brian Stelter wrote.

"Much like a good boxing match, a good debate means you don't notice the referee," wrote pollster Frank Luntz. "Kudos to moderators @JakeTapper and @DanaBashCNN so far."

What's Next

The second scheduled debate between Biden and Trump is set to take place at 9 p.m. ET September 10. Moderators for the debate have not been announced, although Tapper is unlikely to be involved as the debate will be hosted by ABC News instead of CNN.