Former CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta urged major media outlets to coordinate a unified response to President Donald Trump’s comments toward journalists, saying news organizations should consider withholding coverage unless the president changes his approach.
Acosta made the remarks Saturday during an appearance on MS NOW, previously known as MSNBC.
The discussion centered on an exchange earlier this month between the president and Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey.
During a press event, Lucey questioned President Trump about files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The president responded by telling her to be “quiet, piggy.”
Acosta called the remark “disgusting” and compared it to behavior that would lead to termination in a traditional workplace.
Acosta said other reporters should have intervened when the remark was made.
“Other folks in the press in the room should speak up in that moment and say, ‘Mr. President, that is not appropriate,’” he said.
He added that journalists should continue asking the original question.
“Why didn’t you answer that question? Why are you resorting to personal attacks? Why can’t you take the heat? What’s going on here?”
During the interview, Acosta said news organizations may need to coordinate their actions.
“I think the only solution to all of this is collective action,” he said.
He proposed that major newspapers and television networks send a written message to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
According to Acosta, the letter would warn that if the president continues making similar remarks to journalists, those outlets would temporarily stop attending Oval Office press availabilities or traveling aboard Air Force One.
Acosta suggested the message could state, “You can have Fox and all these other sycophantic outlets covering you, but we’re just not going to do it. We’re going to take a break for a while until you clean up your act.”
Jim Acosta: Leftwing media should threaten to not show up to Trump’s press avails anymore “until you clean up your act."
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 29, 2025
Great idea. Do it. Please. pic.twitter.com/oqtQIG5vGZ
Acosta has had several public disputes with President Trump dating back to the president’s first term.
One of the highest-profile confrontations occurred in November 2018 during a press conference following the midterm elections.
Acosta questioned President Trump about his characterization of a migrant caravan from Latin America as an “invasion,” resulting in an extended exchange between the two.
The president repeatedly instructed Acosta to sit down and surrender the microphone.
He called Acosta a “rude, terrible person” and said the reporter treated then-Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders unfairly.
The White House later suspended Acosta’s press credentials, alleging that he made physical contact with an intern who attempted to take the microphone.
President Trump told him at the time, “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them.”
Acosta announced in January that he was leaving CNN.
Following the announcement, President Trump commented on Truth Social, calling him a “major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up.”
Acosta’s remarks on MS NOW mark one of his first major televised interviews since his departure from CNN.
