By Gloria Ogbonna
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta sparked conversation over the weekend after praising and laughing at several anti-Trump protest signs while interviewing demonstrators at a “No Kings” rally in Washington, D.C.
The event was part of a broader series of left-leaning protests organized in cities across the United States in opposition to President Donald Trump.
During a segment of The Jim Acosta Show, the veteran journalist walked through the crowd speaking with participants and reacting to their signs. At one point, Acosta read aloud a placard that stated, “Okay, cholesterol, do your job.”
He described the message as “very funny” and “very clever,” appearing to acknowledge the dark humor aimed at Trump’s health. Critics quickly noted that the sign seemed to allude to the president suffering a fatal health event while in office, prompting debate online about the tone of the exchange.
Another protest sign that drew Acosta’s attention featured an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin standing beside a much smaller depiction of Trump.
The poster also included the phrase, “The Epstein files aren’t in Iran,” along with arrows and the words “I did this,” pointing toward both the imagery and text. The reference appeared to tie together ongoing political controversies, including scrutiny surrounding unreleased materials connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Reacting to the sign, Acosta commented, “The Epstein files aren’t in Iran. That’s very true. And many of the Epstein files have not been released. Millions of them have not been released. And so folks are wondering that too, but excellent signs.”
His remarks were interpreted by some viewers as sympathetic to the protesters’ messaging, while others argued he was simply reporting on the atmosphere and sentiments expressed at the rally.
After finishing his brief interviews, Acosta described the demonstrators as “nice people” and concluded the segment by telling them, “Have a great ‘No Kings’ day,” further fueling reactions across social media and political commentary platforms.
The episode comes more than a year after Acosta’s departure from CNN. In January 2025, reports surfaced that he planned to leave the network after CEO Mark Thompson removed him from his 10:00 a.m. weekday time slot and offered him a midnight-to-2:00 a.m. program instead.
According to journalist Oliver Darcy, a source familiar with the situation suggested the scheduling shift was intended to “throw a bone to Trump,” a claim that added another layer to ongoing discussions about media networks and political pressure.
Meanwhile, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr recently weighed in on what he described as a broader transformation within the media landscape. Carr argued that Trump is “fundamentally reshaping the entire media ecosystem” by directly challenging legacy news organizations rather than accepting their framing of political narratives.
He further suggested that high-profile departures of established journalists — including Acosta and Don Lemon — reflect the shifting dynamics within traditional media institutions.
As political tensions continue to influence both journalism and public demonstrations, Acosta’s appearance at the “No Kings” rally underscores the increasingly blurred lines between media coverage, commentary, and activism in today’s polarized environment.
Souce Breitbart
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