Jim Acosta, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, targeted the president-elect on Thursday’s CNN Newsroom segment. The 53-year-old emphasized the importance of “freedom of the press,” quoting outgoing President Joe Biden. The broadcaster even held up a placard made by a fan to preach a free and fair media amid allegations that there were plans to bury him in order to “throw a bone” at the future commander-in-chief.
CNN’s Jim Acosta throws shade at Donald Trump, quotes Joe Biden
In his approximately one-minute speech, Acosta highlighted Biden’s warning that press freedom was “eroding” and declared journalists “not the enemy of the people.” “I’d like to talk a little bit about what President Biden said in his farewell speech,” the embattled CNN broadcaster said.
“He warned that press freedom is collapsing in this country,” Acosta said of Biden, adding, “And I would add, it will only happen if we, the people, allow it to happen.” “Journalists exist to seek the truth, tell people’s stories, amplify otherwise unheard voices, highlight injustice and hold those in power accountable,” he continued.
Mr. Acosta was clearly critical of Mr. Trump, saying, “We are not the enemy of the people. We are the people’s defenders.” Walter Cronkite once said, “Freedom of the press is not only important to democracy.” said. That is democracy.” His statement appeared to be a reference to the president-elect’s repeated statements that the media is the “enemy of the people.”
Acosta later held up a bright pink placard at the White House that a fan had given him at the start of Trump’s first term. The sign read, “Marching for Free Press with Jim Acosta,” and next to it was a hand-drawn drawing of a fist holding a pencil. “I’d like to take a moment and show you something. Eight years ago, a woman sent me this sign,” he said.
“She brought it here at the March on Washington. She wrote on the back of the sign to me and the press in Washington, D.C., ‘We have your support.’ To Nora, wherever you are, you’ll be right back,” the liberal broadcaster added.
CNN reportedly plans to ‘out’ Jim Acosta as President Trump’s olive branch
Former CNN senior media correspondent Oliver Darcy reported in the Status News newsletter that CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced earlier this week that Acosta’s show would be moved from 10 a.m. to the late-night cemetery slot. He is said to have proposed. “This move would effectively banish Mr. Acosta to the Siberia of television news,” he wrote.
“I’m told that Thompson suddenly made a strange proposition to the veteran journalist: move the show to midnight and anchor it until 2 a.m. ET,” Darcey continued, adding that Acosta responded to the move by saying, It caught me off guard,” he added. He added that an anonymous source told him that “they (CNN) want to get rid of Mr. Acosta to give Mr. Trump a bone.” “Midnight is not a serious offer, even though his ratings are among the highest on the network.”
