Jim Acosta hit back at Donald Trump after the president went on an insult-filled tirade about the journalist amid reports he was leaving CNN.
Trump had posted on Truth Social Tuesday celebrating reports that the anchor intended to quit his job after he was pushed to move from a 10 a.m. Eastern time slot to a midnight shift amid a shake-up of the network’s schedule.
“Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, ‘Death Valley,’ because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!),” Trump wrote. “Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!”
Acosta shared on X (formerly Twitter) a screen grab of Trump’s post, and threw in his own take on a favorite term coined by Trump and his supporters.
“Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome,” Acosta wrote.
Trump’s backers often claim his opponents suffer from “TDS,” or “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” to suggest that Trump’s critics are obsessed with him to the extent that they are irrationally negative toward him.
Acosta formally announced on air Tuesday morning that he had decided to move on from CNN after nearly 18 years there.
“Don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth — and to hope,” he said in his final message to viewers.
Go Ad-Free — And Protect The Free Press
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Ha later announced on social media that he was “going independent, at least for now,” via Substack.
He was routinely critical of Trump on CNN and had his White House press credentials temporarily suspended in 2018 after clashing with the president.