CNN's Jake Tapper scorched Kari Lake, who serves as President Donald Trump's senior advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, during his show on Monday for her actions following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
An alleged gunman fired multiple rounds at the Washington Hilton while the press dinner was underway, and was swiftly detained by authorities at the scene. Trump and members of his cabinet, who were in attendance, were on another floor, away from where the shots were fired. A Secret Service agent was struck in their bulletproof vest and survived. No one was killed during the event.
After the event, Trump used the shooting to push Congress to build his new signature ballroom, which is currently under lock-and-key because of a court order. Trump and first lady Melania Trump also attacked late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel for making light of the shooting during his show.
Tapper told his audience that Trump's reaction was expected, but not for a reason that many saw coming.
"This crusade against Kimmel was predictable because the Trump administration attempted to use Saturday's shooting as justification to stop all critical coverage, whether journalistic or comedic, of Donald Trump," Tapper said. "That started even before the ballroom emptied."
"Kari Lake, the election denier who's currently in charge of Voice of America, approached a CNN table after the shooting and blamed journalists for the attempted attack and personally insulted one of our correspondents as a 'midget,'" Tapper continued. "She then went outside and trailed me for about a block. I was trying to ignore her. She was saying that I was responsible for what happened. CNN's responsible for what happened, and that unhinged rant by someone who, frankly, obviously needs help, is now being matched with social media posts and more from the White House trying to use this horrific tragedy to demonize any criticism as calls for violence."
