In the world of politics and media, things can get heated—but every now and then, someone crosses a line.
That’s exactly what happened when former CNN reporter Jim Acosta made a joke that many are calling deeply inappropriate.
During a podcast appearance, Acosta brought up Donald Trump’s late ex-wife, Ivana, and made a remark that even some of his usual critics found hard to defend.
Acosta’s Controversial Comments Spark Backlash
While speaking on The Contrarian podcast, Acosta shifted from immigration policy to Trump’s personal life and, more specifically, his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey—where Ivana Trump is buried.
“Where are the ICE raids at Trump properties?” Acosta asked, sarcastically.
He then speculated about undocumented workers at the Virginia golf club, suggesting “some kind of squirreliness” with their paperwork.
But then, he went even further. Acosta joked about how many immigrants Trump had married, and added, “He’s got one buried at his golf course in New Jersey! Isn’t she buried by the first hole or second tee?”
Laughter followed from liberal journalist April Ryan and host Jennifer Rubin, while Acosta ended with a jab: “Immigrants, always doing the jobs Americans don’t want to do!”
Ivana Trump’s Memory Caught in the Crossfire
Ivana Trump passed away in 2022 after a tragic fall at her home.
The former model and businesswoman was laid to rest at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
Born in what was then Czechoslovakia, Ivana had lived in Canada before making her way to the U.S., where she married Donald Trump in 1977.
The couple had three children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric—and divorced in the early 1990s.
Trump’s second wife, Melania, is also an immigrant, originally from Slovenia.
The White House Fires Back
Acosta’s comments didn’t go unnoticed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to slam him, calling Acosta a “disgraceful human being” in a statement to Fox Digital.
She expressed outrage over the joke, particularly its reference to a deceased person and its perceived mockery of immigrant women Trump had married.
Trump Supporters Rage Online
The backlash wasn’t limited to the press room. Across social media, Trump supporters—and even some independents—reacted with fury.
On X (formerly Twitter), one person called Acosta “a whole new level of messed up.”
Another wrote, “You are a truly SICK person.
Go crawl under the rock you crawled out from!!”
Even people who’ve sparred with Trump over the years expressed discomfort at using Ivana’s grave as punchline material.
Acosta’s History With Trump
Jim Acosta isn’t new to controversy. He was CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent during Trump’s presidency and often found himself at odds with the former president.
Trump once called him “an unprofessional guy” during a live press briefing and criticized him in interviews, describing him as “not smart” but “loud.”
Acosta left CNN earlier this year after nearly two decades at the network.
He’s now running his own show on Substack and YouTube, where he continues to comment on politics from a progressive standpoint.
