Donald Trump lashed out at Jake Tapper after the CNN host ordered the news network’s control room to cut away from video of the ex-president with supporters after his criminal arraignment in Miami.
Mr Trump made a quick stop at the famed Cuban restaurant Versailles on Tuesday after he left the federal courtroom where he pleaded not guilty to mishandling classified secret documents.
Inside the Little Havana cafe, Mr Trump posed for pictures with supporters who sang “Happy Birthday” to the twice impeached Republican who will turn 77 on Wednesday.
After CNN showed footage from inside the cafe, an annoyed Tapper clearly had enough and told producers not to do so again.
“I don’t need to see any more of that. He’s trying to turn it into a spectacle and into a campaign ad. That is enough of that. We’ve seen it already,” he said live on air.
Mr Trump took to Truth Social to lash out at the journalist and appeared to give him the new nickname of “Fake” Tapper.
“Fake Tapper just demanded that his broadcast be closed down from Miami because there was far too much enthusiasm on the streets for ‘Trump.’ The good news is, he was the only one to do so, perhaps a good explanation as to why CNN’s ratings are so low!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Mr Trump’s lawyers entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf when he appeared in court on Tuesday, becoming the first president in US history to be charged with federal crimes.
Jake Tapper asks the CNN control room to stop running footage of Trump visiting a Miami cafe right after his arraignment.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 13, 2023
"I don’t need to see any more of that. He’s trying to turn it into a spectacle and into a campaign ad. That is enough of that. We’ve seen it already." pic.twitter.com/ivjTf5m2JV
The one-term president has been indicted by the Justice Department with 37 charges over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
Former first lady Melania Trump was a no-show at her husband’s arrest and arraignment on Tuesday – the second time that she has not been by his side in his criminal cases.
Versailles started life as a small coffee shop in 1971 but became a cultural and political hot spot in Miami and a necessary stop for high-profile politicians visiting the city.
