CNN Contributor Uses ‘Die Hard’ Reference During Speaker Vote: ‘You Asked for Miracles, Democrats, I Give You the G.O.P.’

CNN contributor Kristen Soltis Anderson used a reference from the 1988 Christmas film “Die Hard” to criticize her own party as it initially appeared House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would be denied the gavel to begin the 119th Congress Friday.

The GOP pollster joined CNN’s coverage of the vote to keep Johnson as speaker and as three Republican holdouts appeared to sink Johnson and potentially President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 certification Monday. Perhaps Anderson was still feeling the holiday spirit because she quoted “Die Hard’s” chief antagonist.

Johnson ended up retaining the gavel after only one round of voting after two of the three holdouts changed their votes in his direction.

As it appeared Johnson and his allies might have to cut some deals to get to 218 votes, Anderson quoted “Die Hard’s” Hans Gruber – a fictional robber who was portrayed by the late, great Alan Rickman.

In the film, Gruber and his cronies are attempting to get past an electronic issue with a vault at the fictional Nakatomi Corporation’s Los Angeles office. While referring to a standard federal government practice of cutting the power to buildings occupied by terrorists – Gruber informs one of his henchmen the feds would navigate their issue for them.

Gruber said, “The circuits that cannot be cut are cut automatically in response to a terrorist incident. You asked for miracles, Theo, I give you the F.B.I.”

On CNN, Anderson was addressing the infighting among House Republicans when she referenced the film and the quote just nine days after Christmas.

Network anchor Jake Tapper, a “Die Hard” Christman fan himself, laid out the context of what CNN viewers were witnessing on the House floor and asked Anderson for her take. She replied:

Well, I just keep remembering that it was – I think, October of 2023, – I was here at this desk with you, Jake – and I said, to quote the great Hans Gruber, um, you asked for miracles, Democrats. I give you the G.O.P. And we are, right back there in the same spot, with Republicans now in what should be a stronger position, seeming to not send the message that they’re ready to govern on this first ballot.

Watch above via CNN.