Jake Tapper interviewed Bill Barr, the former U.S. attorney general, and many liberals lashed out angrily at CNN for giving the former Trump official a platform.
Tapper challenged Barr to explain why he worked under former President Donald Trump despite some of the criticisms he offered in his book about his time as attorney general.
Barr said he had supported Trump’s policies despite what he said was a poor personal temperament. He also said that Trump went “off the rails” after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Barr added that the country would be better served with a presidential candidate other than Trump in 2024.
Many on the left were angered that CNN would even invite Barr on their network.
“Dear Jake Tapper, Please don’t ever invite the traitorous criminal, Bill Barr, onto your show ever again. He’s a professional liar. And he belongs in prison for obstruction of justice. Stop amplifying his voice & helping him sell his book. How desperate for ratings can you be???” read one popular tweet with 1k likes.
“Jake Tapper should have never allowed this horrible person on his show to promote his book. Huge failure. Turn Off Tapper!!” read another tweet.
“WHY is @jaketapper giving FREE AIRTIME to Bill Barr so he can offer his REVISION of HISTORY to Sell His Book?” asked another detractor.
“Just turned off @CNN @jaketapper . It’s disgusting and disheartening to have Bill Barr on hawking his book!” read another tweet.
Others were upset that Tapper didn’t push back on Barr accusing the far left of having a totalitarian temperament.
“Hey @jaketapper why no pushback when the very person who aided & abetted trump’s every totalitarian impulse (up until an actual PowerPoint coup) gaslights your viewers by accusing the progressives of having a ‘totalitarian temperament’? No pushback at all? None? Really?” said one user.
“I just saw William Barr refer to the totalitarian left, while being interviewed by Jake Tapper. No push back. Mr. Tapper, why give him a platform? Why no push back?” read another tweet.
Barr also blamed Rudy Giuliani in the CNN interview for what he called a “silly stunt” of trying to force the Ukrainians to investigate allegations of corruption by the Biden family.
“I thought it had no upside, only downside, and it was stupid,” said Barr.
