Politics
Speculation Explodes After Wolf Blitzer Is Replaced MID-INTERVIEW By Another Host: ‘Is Wolf Okay?’
CNN viewers may have been startled by an abrupt transition mid-interview by veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer as he spoke with Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) on Thursday. The anchor appears to be in distress on camera before the CNN operator cuts away to Raskin and snap-cuts to a commercial.
Former Senior Executive at NBCUniversal Mike Sington shared a video of the moment where Blitzer appears to become increasingly unwell, stiffening repeatedly while making a discomforted expression until appearing to stifle himself from either coughing or vomiting at about the 46-second mark before the video cuts away.
“Wolf had to step away.” Watch Wolf Blitzer’s face carefully. He goes into some sort of physical distress while on live TV, CNN abruptly cuts to a commercial, then returns with another anchor. Blitzer has since posted, “I’m fine!”. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/OQm04Igioq
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 9, 2024
Another CNN anchor, Paula Reid would take the screen moments later and announce “Wolf had to step away, but he’ll be back.”
After the incident, Blitzer would take to X to reassure his viewers with a post saying, “I’m fine! Thanks for the well wishes. I’ll see you back in the Situation Room soon.”
I’m fine! Thanks for the well wishes. I’ll see you back in the Situation Room soon.
— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) February 9, 2024
CNN answered a request for information from The Washington Post’s Will Sommer with a statement saying, “Wolf wasn’t feeling 100% while anchoring Thursday night. He looks forward to being back in the Situation Room and appreciates the well wishes.”
Media news—CNN responds to Wolf Blitzer getting sick and leaving his show suddenly with a statement: "Wolf wasn’t feeling 100% while anchoring Thursday night. He looks forward to being back in the Situation Room and appreciates the well wishes." https://t.co/yBbYAhFfGN
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) February 9, 2024
While many online expressed concern for the 75-year-old anchor’s health, many took the opportunity for some levity noting that listening to Raskin speak inspired similar reactions from them. Crowdsource The Truth wrote in a reply, “To be fair, listening to @RepRaskin is enough to make anyone sick, but @wolfblitzer puking would have been the most interesting thing broadcast on @CNN in decades.”
Blitzer has been with CNN for 33 years, has chaired the Situation Room for the last 18 years, and has been known as the most prominent face of the beleaguered left-leaning network for over two decades. Many view Blitzer as one of the last vestiges of CNN’s ‘glory days’ of the late 1980s and early 90s with almost all of his contemporaries of the time either moved on, retired or are deceased.
As previously reported by Trending Politics, CNN has undergone multiple shakeups in the last year with major changes to the network’s morning lineup announced in early February. The “CNN This Morning,” project born at the direction of former CNN chief Chris Licht, helmed by the trio of Poppy Harlow, Don Lemon, and Kaitlan Collins has come to an end and will be replaced with “CNN News Central,” a condensed version of the show to be led by Kasie Hunt. Jim Acosta, a longtime weekend anchor, will also pivot to a 10 a.m. Mon-Fri slot to shore up the network’s daytime schedule.