As the polls turned in Donald Trump’s favor on election night, even CNN’s Jake Tapper couldn’t ignore the magnitude of Trump’s comeback. Speaking candidly with Anderson Cooper, Tapper acknowledged what millions of Trump supporters have been cheering for months: that Trump’s return to political dominance is nothing short of historic.
“It is hard to think of a political comeback that is actually more significant than this one,” Tapper admitted, adding, “I’m tempted to say Richard Nixon, but that really falls short of what Donald Trump has achieved.” These words, coming from Tapper, an outspoken critic of Trump, struck a chord with conservatives across the country, who took to social media to celebrate what they saw as a rare moment of honesty from CNN.
Mario Nawfal, a conservative commentator, quickly shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “🚨🇺🇸CNN: TRUMP’S COMEBACK IS THE GREATEST IN HISTORY.” Nawfal’s post ignited a wave of comments, with some users reveling in the discomfort they imagined Tapper and Cooper must have felt making such an admission. “They look like they are about to cry,” joked one commenter, while another quipped, “They have entered survival mode.”
Others used the opportunity to reflect on what Trump’s victory could mean for the country and the political landscape going forward. “Trump is back with a historic victory, hopefully he will learn from his mistakes and move the world forward with him,” one user noted. Many conservatives pointed to this moment as the beginning of the end for legacy media, with one user declaring, “The era of irrelevant Legacy Lamestream Media is gone; it’s time to shift gears and embrace modern free speech platforms like X!”
The significance of Tapper’s statement wasn’t lost on other conservative influencers. Filmmaker Eric Abbenante chimed in, saying, “Jake Tapper admits to Anderson Cooper that Donald Trump’s comeback was the greatest in political history, beating Richard Nixon.” He couldn’t resist adding a jab, recalling how CNN had once tried to hype Kamala Harris’s popularity, suggesting those predictions were now completely obsolete.
One account, known as “American Archer,” also highlighted Tapper’s admission, joking, “Holy crap, even Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper are now complimenting Donald Trump. ‘This is the greatest comeback in history.’” The fact that Trump’s victory was getting this kind of acknowledgment from CNN itself was a testament to its impact.
Many Americans had written off CNN as out-of-touch, so Tapper’s statement seemed like a shocking moment of clarity for the network. “Resist the Mainstream,” another conservative account, put it this way: “🚨 CNN’s Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper ADMIT Trump’s victory is the GREATEST COMEBACK IN POLITICAL HISTORY. Do you think they will change?” Tapper’s comment was taken as a rare acknowledgment that perhaps CNN couldn’t ignore the reality of Trump’s popularity and resilience.
Conservative observers noted the significance of a comeback like Trump’s, seeing it as a testament to his lasting appeal despite relentless political and media attacks. For many, Trump’s resurgence speaks to the grit and resolve that defined his base in 2016 and continued to resonate into 2024. As one user aptly put it, “It’s not the setback that defines you, it’s the comeback. And Donald Trump just pulled off the single greatest political comeback in American history.”
In the end, whether CNN’s coverage of Trump’s victory was a momentary lapse or a sign of a shift remains to be seen. But for Trump’s supporters, Tapper’s comment wasn’t just news—it was confirmation of the strength and influence of the Trump movement and a clear sign that they weren’t going away anytime soon. As Trump takes his place in history, it seems even his loudest critics are finally beginning to recognize his resilience.
