By Charles Switzer
2:22pm PST, Feb 21, 2025
Acosta's Sharp Criticism of Karoline Leavitt
Former CNN anchor
Jim Acosta did not hold back in his critique of White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt, dismissing her as a "kid" spinning "tall tales" during a recent interview on the left-leaning "MeidasTouch" podcast.
Acosta sarcastically suggested that Leavitt was vying for a spot on President
Donald Trump's "all-star team of liars," implying that she had not yet reached the same level of deception as past Trump press secretaries. Comparing her to a child making up stories, Acosta painted Leavitt as inexperienced and untrustworthy, setting off a storm of reactions online.
Here's what happened.
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Backlash From Trump Supporters
Acosta's remarks immediately drew backlash from Trump supporters, many of whom defended Leavitt as an accomplished professional and accused Acosta of hypocrisy.
Critics on social media were quick to call out what they saw as his own history of misinformation, with one X user posting, "Jim Acosta calling someone a LIAR… now that's rich."
Others took personal jabs at Acosta following reports that CNN had attempted to push him into an undesirable time slot, leading to his recent departure. Some sarcastically remarked that his criticism stemmed from jealousy, with another poster writing, "Jim's just jealous & hurt that young women are so much smarter & far more relevant than his washed up old lying a–!"
Leavitt's Historic Role as Press Secretary
At just 27 years old, Leavitt is the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, surpassing
Ronald Ziegler, who held the role at age 29 under President
Richard Nixon. Her appointment was seen as a major milestone, but it has also made her a target for critics who question her qualifications.
While Acosta mocked her as less competent than past Trump administration press secretaries like
Sean Spicer and
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Leavitt has maintained strong support from conservatives who view her as an assertive defender of the administration's policies.
Acosta Takes Aim at Trump and His Staff
Beyond Leavitt, Acosta used the interview to launch broader attacks on President Trump, accusing him of being "addicted" to television and pushing his staff to lie to the press. He also referenced
Saturday Night Live, suggesting that a Leavitt impersonation was inevitable given what he described as her "bad lying."
The ex-anchor framed the Trump administration as a chaotic mess, expressing sympathy for fact-checkers who, in his words, would be forced into "overdrive" under the new administration. His remarks reflected a continuation of his long-standing adversarial relationship with Trump and his team, reigniting tensions between Acosta and the conservative media landscape.
