In a recent interview, Jim Acosta, the liberal former CNN anchor, took aim at supporters of President Donald Trump, implying that a significant portion of the American populace is disinterested in the truth.
Acosta, who has transitioned to a new venture on Substack following his departure from CNN, emphasized the necessity for media outlets to intensify their fact-checking efforts during Trump's second administration. "I think it does make a difference," Acosta remarked. "Half the country still wants to hear the truth."
According to Fox News, Acosta shared insights from his career and his evolving perspective on journalism with The Washingtonian. He recounted how he once discouraged college students from pursuing journalism due to the demanding nature of the profession. However, his stance has shifted, and he now urges young people to enter the field, citing a need for "reinforcements."
He stated, "When I go talk to college students, I used to say, Dont go into this business. Youre going to lose your weekends and your holidays, and your mothers going to say, You dont call me anymore. And now I tell them, Please come into this business, because we need reinforcements.'"
During his tenure at CNN, Acosta was known for his confrontational style as a White House correspondent, frequently clashing with President Trump and his press secretaries. His reporting often included editorial commentary, such as criticizing Kim Kardashian's visit to the White House for criminal justice reform discussions, objecting to the term "Wuhan Coronavirus" as xenophobic, and reciting the Statue of Liberty poem.
Following President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, Acosta was reassigned from the White House beat to an anchor position. However, with Trump's return to office, Acosta declined a late-night slot at CNN and subsequently left the network in January.
In a recent "town hall" event featuring liberal media figures, including former CNN colleague Don Lemon, Acosta did not hold back in his critique of Trump's administration. Lemon described Trump's daily activities as a "show," to which Acosta responded, "A pretty sh---y one, but yes," eliciting laughter from the audience. This exchange underscores Acosta's continued skepticism towards Trump's approach to governance and media engagement.
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