Former CNN journalist Jim Acosta hit a new low with an appalling joke about Ivana Trump’s grave, prompting immediate condemnation from the White House as deportation operations ramp up nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Former CNN reporter Jim Acosta mocked the burial site of Ivana Trump at President Trump’s New Jersey golf course while complaining about the lack of ICE raids at Trump properties.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt swiftly condemned Acosta, labeling him “a disgraceful human being” for his insensitive remarks about the deceased mother of three Trump children.
- Acosta’s tasteless comments included suggesting Ivana’s burial exemplifies jobs “Americans won’t do” – a tired progressive talking point about illegal immigration.
- The controversy erupted as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement nationwide, with major ICE operations resulting in hundreds of arrests in Los Angeles.
- After leaving CNN in January following 18 years with the network, Acosta continues his anti-Trump rhetoric on his Substack and YouTube platforms.
Acosta’s Offensive Remarks Spark Outrage
During an appearance on The Contrarian podcast, former CNN correspondent Jim Acosta made shocking comments about the late Ivana Trump, who passed away in 2022 and is buried at President Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Acosta’s remarks came during a segment where he was criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies and enforcement actions. The disgraced journalist mockingly questioned why ICE wasn’t conducting raids at Trump properties before launching into his distasteful joke about Ivana Trump’s final resting place.
“Where are the ICE raids at the Trump properties? Could somebody call ICE on the Trump golf course in Virginia? You’re telling me there’s nobody in there that is undocumented or has some kind of squirreliness going on with their paperwork? Give me a break,” said Jim Acosta.
Acosta then went further, making the appalling comment about Ivana Trump, who immigrated from Czechoslovakia and is the mother of Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump. His attempt at humor was both disrespectful to the deceased and inappropriate given the sensitive nature of burial sites and family grief. The media personality has a long history of antagonistic behavior toward President Trump dating back to his time as White House correspondent during Trump’s first administration.
White House Delivers Swift Condemnation
The White House responded quickly and forcefully to Acosta’s remarks. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not mince words when addressing the former CNN reporter’s comments about the President’s former wife. The clear, unequivocal statement from the administration reflected the general public outrage at Acosta’s callous disregard for basic decency and respect for the dead, regardless of political affiliations or immigration status.
“Jim Acosta is a disgraceful human being,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Social media erupted with Trump supporters expressing their disgust at Acosta’s comments, many noting that his departure from CNN earlier this year has not tempered his anti-Trump obsession. The controversy highlights the increasingly bitter divide in American media, where some journalists have abandoned all pretense of objectivity in favor of partisan attacks. Acosta’s willingness to mock a deceased mother in service of a political point demonstrates just how far some media figures will go.
Immigration Enforcement Context
The timing of Acosta’s inflammatory comments coincides with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement. Recent ICE operations in Los Angeles have resulted in hundreds of arrests, sparking protests and clashes with law enforcement. These enforcement actions represent the administration’s commitment to addressing illegal immigration after years of open borders policies under the previous administration. While the media focuses on the controversy, the administration continues implementing its promised immigration agenda.
“How many immigrants has he married? He’s got one buried at his golf course in New Jersey! Isn’t she buried by the first hole or the second tee or something like that?,” said Jim Acosta.
Acosta’s attempt to create a narrative about hypocrisy in immigration enforcement ignores the fundamental difference between legal immigrants like Ivana and Melania Trump and those entering the country illegally. President Trump has consistently supported legal immigration while working to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Acosta’s crude attempt to conflate these distinct issues reveals more about his personal vendetta than it does about actual immigration policy. Since leaving CNN in January following a period of declining ratings, Acosta has continued his anti-Trump commentary on his independent platforms.
