The feud between CNN host Jake Tapper and veteran Brian Mast, a Republican representative from Florida, continued Wednesday evening with Mast reminding the host how much he sacrificed for Tapper’s right to say “whatever the hell he wants.”
The spat began when Mast posed a question on the House floor during Wednesday afternoon’s impeachment proceedings.
“I rise with a very simple question,” he said. “On Jan. 6, thousands of people broke the law by taking siege of our Capitol here with us inside. Has any one of those persons who brought violence on our Capitol been brought here to say whether they did that because of our president?”
Mast’s query was greeted by 30 seconds of silence, to which he responded, “It appears I will receive no answer.”
Tapper then questioned Mast’s commitment to democracy in the United States.
“Congressman Brian Mast … who lost his legs, by the way, fighting for democracy abroad, although I don’t know — about his commitment to it here in the United States,” he said.
Mast later reminded Tapper that the free speech rights he fought to protect overseas apply not only to Tapper but also to everyone in America.
“I lost two legs for @jaketapper’s right to say whatever the hell he wants, but that free speech also protects the Republicans he is so eager to condemn for asking Constitutional questions about the election,” he wrote.
I lost two legs for @jaketapper‘s right to say whatever the hell he wants, but that free speech also protects the Republicans he is so eager to condemn for asking Constitutional questions about the election. https://t.co/ViNrwz9cbU
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) January 13, 2021
Tapper’s reply to Mast’s tweet noted that the latter was a “hero for [his] service” but reiterated his original criticism.
“Yes i question the commitment to democracy of anyone who spread election lies, signed onto that deranged TX AG lawsuit, and voted to commit sedition,” he wrote. “You were not just asking questions.”
You’re a hero for your service and I’m grateful, as I’ve said before. And yes i question the commitment to democracy of anyone who spread election lies, signed onto that deranged TX AG lawsuit, and voted to commit sedition. You were not just asking questions.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 14, 2021
Tapper’s on-air comments drew fire from conservatives on Twitter. Podcaster Dave Rubin said that the remarks “might be the most vile thing ever said on cable news,” noting his disappointment that the anchor who had been “CNN’s last hope … turned out to be the absolute worst.”
This might be the most vile thing ever said on cable news.
Tapper was CNN’s last hope and he turned out to be the absolute worst. https://t.co/ePR1gXaUh1
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) January 13, 2021
Federalist co-founder Sean Davis went further, arguing that Tapper’s previous support for veterans was performative.
“Jake Tapper is a disgraceful coward who only pretends to care about veterans when he needs to use them as human PR shields whenever he gets dragged online,” he tweeted. “As this clip shows, he loathes veterans, especially those injured in war.”
Jake Tapper is a disgraceful coward who only pretends to care about veterans when he needs to use them as human PR shields whenever he gets dragged online. As this clip shows, he loathes veterans, especially those injured in war. https://t.co/mffPRAteix
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) January 13, 2021
Fox News contributor Joey Jones, who also lost his legs serving his nation, said he found the remarks offensive but indicated that he does not take Tapper’s opinion on the matter seriously.
“So @jaketapper has written so many books-pandered enough on Twitter about other people’s heroic service he truly believes he has some assumed moral authority on it,” he wrote. “What a disgusting thing to say about @BrianMastFL thankfully those of us who’ve done something can laugh it off.”
So @jaketapper has written so many books-pandered enough on Twitter about other people’s heroic service he truly believes he has some assumed moral authority on it. What a disgusting thing to say about @BrianMastFL thankfully those of us who’ve done something can laugh it off https://t.co/vkCJhw5xR8
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) January 13, 2021
CNN did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment.