Tapper vs. Cooper: CNN anchors’ feud explodes

A talent war has erupted at CNN. Network heavy hitters Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper have been rumored to be clashing behind the scenes for some time now – and a hot mic moment has exposed the bitter feud to viewers, Knewz.com can reveal. The awkward on-air moment came during the network’s coverage of Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last week.

During the broadcast, Cooper handed off the coverage to Tapper, who was on location in Alaska, but the transition was anything but smooth. The mic caught Tapper as he snapped at his colleague, “I’m fine. Just give me my show back!” Cooper seemingly took delight in Tapper’s embarrassment and quipped, “The show’s back.” While surprised viewers may have written off the exchange as a simple slip, insiders claimed the incident revealed a long-running feud between the hosts.

A senior source told Hollywood insider Rob Shuter, who writes on Substack, “They’ve hated each other for years. Both think they’re the smartest man in the room. Neither will play second fiddle.” Cooper and Tapper are said to fight over “prime interviews, top time slots and bragging rights over each other’s mistakes” when the cameras aren’t rolling. When Tapper experienced technical difficulties immediately after the hot mic moment, while interviewing Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, Cooper was said to have “relished every glitch.” Giggling could also be heard in the background coming from the studio. One veteran staffer said, “The smiles are only for the cameras. Off-air? It’s ice cold.”

Meanwhile, Cooper is said to be plotting his own exit from the network as rumors spread CNN has considered firing him. Cooper has been at CNN since 2001 and earns a whopping $18 million per year. The journalist has hired a new agent from Creative Artists Agency and its top deal broker, Bryan Lourd, amid chatter his job is on the chopping block. A source close to Cooper said, “This isn’t about ratings, it’s about reinvention. He’s done the nightly grind. Now he wants creativity, ownership and freedom.”

The insider claimed Cooper is considering making the switch from network TV to streaming and has been in talks with top platforms including Amazon, Apple TV+ and Netflix. “He’s not waiting around to be the next Don Lemon. He’s planning his own exit, on his own terms,” a second source said, referencing the former CNN morning show host being “stunned” by his ousting in 2023. As cable news continues to struggle with ratings, Cooper’s spot at the embattled network is on the rocks due to his enormous salary. One insider noted, “Anderson’s pulling less than 700,000 viewers a night. Meanwhile, Kaitlan Collins is clocking higher ratings for a fifth of the salary.”