CNN’s Jake Tapper raised more than a few eyebrows this week with a very specific—and apparently inaccurate—description of the recently arrested January 6 pipe bomb suspect, Brian Cole Jr. During his segment on The Lead, Tapper described Cole as a “30-year-old white man.” The only problem? The footage, photos, and court documents don’t seem to support that description. Not even close.
Unless we’ve entered a new era where ethnicity is defined by political convenience, it’s difficult to reconcile Tapper’s statement with the visual evidence. Viewers noticed immediately. Social media lit up with side-by-side comparisons and the obvious question: “This is what CNN calls a white guy?”
Jake Tapper identified the J6 pipe bomb suspect as a “30-Year-old white man.”
Idk about you but this guy does not look white to me. pic.twitter.com/Pcexq2OGlm
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 5, 2025
It’s not the kind of error that can be brushed off as a simple misread of the teleprompter. This is the J6 pipe bomb suspect—someone who allegedly planted explosive devices near both the RNC and DNC headquarters the night before the Capitol breach. The identity and background of this individual matter, not just for legal reasons, but for narrative ones.
For years, the January 6 event has been framed by the media as a white nationalist uprising, a violent manifestation of so-called “MAGA extremism.” The FBI, DOJ, and countless pundits pushed this line repeatedly, even when facts didn’t fully support it. So when a suspect is finally arrested in one of the most mysterious and dangerous components of that day—and he doesn’t fit the racial or ideological profile the media has been selling—it’s clear that something’s got to give.
Looks like Jake Tapper “missed the story”… again!
Will he correct the record and admit that he made a huge mistake? Or will he just save his explanation for his next book? https://t.co/2sw4hN075w
— Titania (@Titania977) December 5, 2025
In Tapper’s case, what gave was the truth.
Let’s not pretend this is new. The media has shown again and again that it will contort the narrative, even fabricate it, when it suits a political end. Misidentifying a suspect’s race might seem like a minor flub—until you understand the motivation behind it. A “white man” fits the script. A suspect who doesn’t? That complicates everything.
The result? Invent the profile that helps protect the narrative.
Hey @jaketapper guess what is trending? “white man” is so it leads back to YOU! https://t.co/vhC31mNoqV
— Sweet Polly Purebred (@shesova) December 5, 2025
As usual, the corporate press will spin this as an honest mistake. But anyone paying attention knows better. Tapper’s not just off the mark—he’s protecting a house of cards. A narrative built over years, now showing cracks because the facts don’t line up.
Whether it’s blindness or willful mislabeling, the takeaway is clear: when facts threaten the narrative, the narrative wins at CNN. And if you don’t believe that, just turn on the TV and see what color they decide someone is—based on how it polls.
