What started as political commentary quickly spiraled into a storm of criticism for former CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
His recent appearance on The Contrarian podcast has ignited serious backlash, especially among Trump supporters, after he made what many are calling an offensive joke about Donald Trump’s late ex-wife, Ivana Trump.
Acosta’s Graveyard Remark Raises Eyebrows
During the episode titled No Kings Day, Acosta took a sharp jab at former President Trump’s immigration policies, but it was his shift into Trump’s personal life that turned heads.
While discussing undocumented immigrants, he veered off-topic and quipped:
“How many immigrants has he married? He’s got one buried at his golf course in New Jersey!”
He was referring to Ivana Trump, who was laid to rest at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Acosta even joked about her being buried near the first hole or the second tee, followed by laughter from fellow liberal commentators April Ryan and host Jennifer Rubin.
He added sarcastically:
“Immigrants, always doing the jobs that Americans don’t want to do!”
Ivana Trump’s Life and Legacy
Ivana Trump passed away in 2022 from blunt injuries sustained during a fall down the stairs.
She was a prominent figure during Trump’s rise in New York real estate and the mother of his three eldest children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
Born in what was then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Ivana emigrated to Canada in the 1970s, later making her way to the U.S. after ending her first marriage.
She met Donald Trump in New York in 1976 and married him the following year.
The White House Responds
Unsurprisingly, Acosta’s comments didn’t go unnoticed by the current Trump team. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back when speaking to Fox Digital, slamming Acosta as a “disgraceful human being.”
Supporters Hit Back on Social Media
Acosta’s remarks also sparked a firestorm online.
Trump supporters flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), expressing disgust and disbelief over the comments. One user wrote,
“Jim Acosta is a whole new level of messed up.”
Another added,
“You are a truly SICK person. Go crawl under the rock you crawled out from!!”
Acosta’s History With Trump
This isn’t the first time Jim Acosta has clashed with Donald Trump.
The two have had a long-standing adversarial relationship, particularly during Trump’s presidency.
Trump once called Acosta “an unprofessional guy” and added,
“I don’t think he’s a smart person, but he’s got a loud voice.”
Acosta worked at CNN for 18 years, including a stint as Chief White House Correspondent.
He left the network in January and now hosts The Jim Acosta Show on both Substack and YouTube, continuing his role as a vocal critic of the former president.
The Bigger Question
While Acosta’s political critiques are nothing new, many are questioning whether he crossed a line by bringing Ivana Trump into the conversation.
Was it satire gone too far, or a calculated hit that misfired?
Either way, the backlash suggests some topics — especially involving the deceased — are still seen as off-limits, even in the most polarized of political circles.