The White House is ticked off at ex-CNN man Jim Acosta for cracking a joke that didn’t sit well with many people. It was about Ivana Trump, Donald Trump‘s ex-wife, who passed away.
In a podcast, Jim Acosta said something about her being buried at Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, and that she was an immigrant taking on the jobs Americans wouldn’t want to do. This didn’t go over well with a lot of listeners. The Trump administration’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, quickly jumped to the current President’s rescue.
The heated exchange occurred on a recent episode of The Contrarian, which is hosted by the ever-sharp Jennifer Rubin. Acosta poked fun at Trump’s views on immigration by pointing out his history with immigrant spouses, specifically mentioning Ivana, who was from the Czech Republic back when it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Acosta quipped, “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?”
This cheeky remark had Rubin and another guest, April Ryan, chuckling.
Ivana Trump, the mother of Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, passed away in 2022 and was laid to rest at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Her burial spot has raised a few eyebrows in the past because it’s been linked to how Trump might have used it for tax breaks by classifying the area as a cemetery.
White House and Donald Trump World Respond with Anger
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back when someone brought up Acosta’s comments. She spoke to Fox News Digital and said, “Jim Acosta is a disgraceful human being.” She explained that his words weren’t just a part of political banter anymore. They were just plain mean. It’s unusual for the current administration to get involved in these media feuds with Trump, but what Acosta said about Ivana’s passing was just too much.
As for Donald Trump, he hasn’t said anything official about it yet.
He’ll never learn ~ ~ White House condemns Jim Acosta after he jokes about Trump’s dead ex-wife: ‘Disgraceful human being’ https://t.co/VqYHGEV74w pic.twitter.com/vRcsj7L9uz
— Mary (@matjendav4) June 18, 2025
However, his supporters, like Donald Trump Jr., have blasted Acosta on social media. This is just one more fight in the ongoing battle between Acosta and the Trump family. When Trump was in office for the first time, Jim Acosta was a constant thorn in their side. He’d often argue with the President and even had his access to the White House taken away in 2018.
Jim Acosta’s History of Provocation & Media Fallout
Jim Acosta’s most recent comments might not have been made on live TV, but they align with how he’s approached his job as a journalist. He’s been throwing sharp, sometimes intense jabs at Trump’s policies and personal behaviour for a while now.
Jim Acosta has a history of locking horns with the President, whether about controversial ICE raids or holding him accountable for his words during press briefings. He’s on the edge between being a journalist and a provocateur.
IL AG Kwame Raoul just told us he’s learning about ICE enforcement operations in his state through media reports and TV personalities such as Dr. Phil and is not receiving any communication from the Trump admin. https://t.co/gGS2Ji1Rfh
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 27, 2025
After leaving CNN in January 2025 because he didn’t agree to a change in his job role, Acosta tried creating podcasts and sharing opinions independently. He’s been sticking to his liberal views even more than before.
So while some on the left thought his words about Ivana Trump were just a clever way of making fun of things, others, including some of his own media buddies, didn’t see the humor in it.
