Heh: Jim Acosta Plays 'Anonymous Sources' Game With a Trump Story, Then Trump Completely Undercuts Him

CNN’s chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta needs no introduction here, as his past unprofessional antics, juvenile “gotcha” tactics, and routine displays of performance journalism as the cameras are rolling have been well-documented by my colleagues and me.

The animosity between President Trump and Acosta goes back to well before Trump was elected president in 2016, but watching Trump routinely own him never gets old.

The latest instance of this happening was earlier this week. Acosta “reported” on Tuesday that big changes were coming with the Republican National Committee post-election. In addition to alleging Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle were seeking “to expand their influence at the Republican National Committee”, Acosta also claimed that “three GOP sources” told him that both Trump Jr.and Guilfoyle were “unhappy with RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel” who they supposedly viewed “as not having done enough to win a close race”:

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are making moves to expand their influence at the Republican National Committee, three GOP sources, including advisers to the President tell CNN. Some sources say they may seek to take over the party structure themselves.

President Donald Trump’s eldest son and his girlfriend, a Trump campaign fundraiser and former Fox News host, have made it clear to campaign and White House officials they are unhappy with RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who they view as not having done enough to win a close race.

He also tweeted out a series of tweets to accompany his story, including these two:

Three GOP sources, including close advisers to the president, say Donald Trump Junior and Kimberly Guilfoyle are making moves to expand their influence at the RNC, with sources saying they may seek to take over the party structure themselves.

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 10, 2020

The president’s eldest son and his girlfriend have made it clear to campaign and WH officials they are unhappy with RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who they view as not having done enough to win a close race.

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 10, 2020

There are a few big problems with Acosta’s story. Firstly, Donald Trump, Jr. has flat out denied Acosta’s claims publicly:

If anyone believes that i want to sit in an office in DC and make fundraising calls for 18 hours a day they clearly have never met me.

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 10, 2020

Trump Jr. also retweeted these two tweets from Republican strategist Andrew Surabian, who is one of his advisors:

To be completely clear, zero interest from Don in taking over the RNC or becoming Chair. To believe otherwise, you would have to believe that Don wants to spend the next 2 years of his life in a DC office making fundraising calls nonstop. Zero common sense from CNN per usual.

— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) November 10, 2020

Even better than that, President Trump himself completely undercut Acosta’s “report” by putting his seal of approval on Ronna McDaniel’s continued RNC leadership in a tweet Wednesday night noting he fully endorsed her running the Republican National Committee:

I am pleased to announce that I have given my full support and endorsement to Ronna McDaniel to continue heading the Republican National Committee (RNC). With 72 MILLION votes, we received more votes than any sitting President in U.S. history – and we will win!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2020

Pretty solid reasoning. I mean getting 10 million more votes than you did 4 years ago is nothing to sneeze at. It’s impressive as hell, to be quite honest. And if Trump ultimately ends up winning, all the better.

But in spite of Trump Jr’s denial and despite the President’s unequivocal show of support of McDaniel, Acosta has still not deleted the fake news from his story as of this writing, because of course he hasn’t:

Hey, @Acosta – this is fake news. President Trump announced his support for Ronna McDaniel to continue leading the RNC in a tweet last night. Why hasn't this been removed from your "report"? https://t.co/1H6IaCiFSn pic.twitter.com/FD0tleVfgB

— Sister Toldjah 😁 (@sistertoldjah) November 12, 2020

It also shouldn’t surprise anyone to know how Acosta tried to fish out the information:

Not only is @Acosta's story incorrect, he dropped it roughly 20 min after this phishing DM. Never called/emailed.

NOTE: He doesn't mention he's writing a story. Never identifies what he is "reporting" or even asks for an on the record response.

How Is this ethical "journalism?" https://t.co/WwHXMvRx5d pic.twitter.com/bszB68w2Gd

— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) November 11, 2020

Serious question here: Do the words “ethical journalism” and “Jim Acosta” go in the same sentence/tweet? Asking for a friend.

(Hat tip: Twitchy)