While participating in a charity event that supports veterans on ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, CNN anchor Jake Tapper felt “unpatriotic” after facing a question about a gold-plated toilet at the Guggenheim Museum.

Tapper and his teammate, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, were stumped by a question regarding which 18K gold-plated item was installed and labeled “America” at the Guggenheim Museum. They debated between the options of “vending machine,” “recliner,” “water fountain,” and “toilet.” The duo had quickly climbed the prize amounts, only using one lifeline before getting stuck on the $125,000 question about the golden item on display. Fortunately, they received assistance from host Jimmy Kimmel, who was astonished that his knowledgeable guests couldn’t immediately identify the correct answer.

The CNN Anchors Needed Jimmy Kimmel’s Art Expertise

Kimmel humorously remarked that the journalists were part of the “deep state” when they utilized the “Ask the Audience” lifeline on an earlier question about the National Treasure film series. Despite his teasing about their political connections, they still placed their trust in him by using their “Ask the Host” lifeline shortly after to assist with the gold-plated $125,000 question. Displaying the sharp wit that made his recent encounter with A-list actor Matt Damon so entertaining, Kimmel immediately scolded them for not selecting the “toilet” option, stating that it was fitting for this moment in American history and should actually be on the flag. Tapper expressed to Kimmel: “I was worried about being accused of disparaging the United States.”

The Washington anchor had been swayed away from the correct answer when Collins passionately argued for the “vending machine” choice. Ultimately, they decided to trust their host, leading them to discover that a fully-functioning gold-plated toilet labeled “America” did indeed stand in the Guggenheim at one time, although it was no longer an active exhibit. This installation by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was showcased at the museum from September 2016 to September 2017, coinciding with much of Donald Trump’s first year as President of the United States. Trump’s well-known preference for gold-plated items even prompted museum curator Nancy Spector to offer to relocate the installation to the White House. Although Tapper feared it might appear “unpatriotic” to label a gold-plated toilet with his country’s name, using public art to challenge authority is a long-standing American tradition. A contemporary example is when, in 2017, American sculptor Kristen Visbal installed the “Fearless Girl” statue defiantly facing the infamous “Charging Bull” statue in New York, which symbolizes America’s capitalist power.

The CNN Anchors Gambled Big on Their Lifelines

Tapper initially confessed to feeling “terrified” about appearing on the show, yet his confidence during early gameplay seemed unwavering. He even assured Collins that there are “no trick questions on this show” when she appeared to be overthinking her options. However, Tapper may have regretted these words once they encountered the $250,000 question regarding what filling is used in a Reese’s peanut butter cup. All four answer choices appeared equally plausible, and the pair had to utilize their two remaining lifelines to attempt to find the correct answer.

First, they eliminated two incorrect responses from consideration, leaving them with “plug” and “pad” as potential answers for what fills this sweet treat. Their “Phone a Friend” lifeline was also confused, but since she guessed “pad,” and Collins was leaning toward that answer as well, they quickly decided to lock it in. Unfortunately, this guess was incorrect, reducing their winnings to $32,000 — a common outcome for celebrity contestants who take risks and miss on tougher questions in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Just before Kimmel reassured them that they would still receive a donation for their charities, he humorously predicted: “Oh man, are you guys gonna have a fight.” The CNN anchors engaged in an exciting round by taking big risks and relying on their lifelines, but it ultimately did not pay off.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.