Acosta mocked for border reporting: ‘Exactly – walls work!’
CNN Chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta was mocked on social media after his report from a steel wall from the border “didn’t show anything resembling a national emergency” in the area of the border that the president will be visiting Thursday in McAllen, Texas.
{mosads}”I found some steel slats down on the border,” wrote Acosta on Twitter. “But I don’t see anything resembling a national emergency situation.. at least not in the McAllen, Texas, area of the border where Trump will be today.”
I found some steel slats down on the border. But I don’t see anything resembling a national emergency situation.. at least not in the McAllen TX area of the border where Trump will be today. pic.twitter.com/KRoLdszLUu
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019
Republican lawmakers and media members, including President Trump, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and former CNN political analyst Peter Hamby took to Twitter to suggest Acosta was unknowingly making the president’s argument for funding from Congress to build a steel wall in order to stop what he calls a “humanitarian crisis” at the border.
“Dear Diary…” President Trump mockingly tweeted when sharing Acosta’s report.
“Exactly — Walls work!” wrote Vice President Pence’s spokeswoman Alyssa Farah.
“[B]arriers work! Great job Jim!!!” posted White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.
Dear Diary… https://t.co/NAuMaQW6fl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019
Glad to see the steel slats are deterring illegal immigrants from attempting to cross the border exactly as @realDonaldTrump said they would. This is why we need to #BuildTheWall along the rest of our southern border. #WallsWork https://t.co/EWJYbq78Dn
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 10, 2019
I am *shocked* that a glib video, customized for re-tweets and filmed in broad daylight along one of the more secure parts of the RGV by a reporter who parachuted in for the day, did not reveal anything dramatic. https://t.co/TgPzMtU8pl
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) January 10, 2019
I would like to thank @Acosta for pointing out how peaceful, safe and secure it is at a part of the border that HAS a wall. #RealNews #BuildTheWall https://t.co/bkssL9nOW3
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) January 10, 2019
Er, you found a place where there is a barrier and all is quiet? Jim, do you know what point you’re actually making here? https://t.co/YbZfYtyO5P
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 10, 2019
Exactly — Walls work! https://t.co/TpfjEDDs3A
— Alyssa Farah (@VPPressSec) January 10, 2019
Brilliant reporting from CNN’s @Acosta —walls work! Thank you Jim! https://t.co/Ymw9iCgPzx
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) January 10, 2019
Jim Acosta just posted one of the biggest self owns ever.
He’s walking along the border where there’s a wall in place talking about how there’s nothing that “resembles a national emergency situation” and “there’s no migrants trying to rush.”
That’s because there’s a wall, Jim. https://t.co/qkuWRhxolW
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) January 10, 2019
Presumably, Jim, the counter-argument would be that you don’t see “a national emergency situation” precisely because there’s a wall of the sort that those you’re criticizing want to extend.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 10, 2019
Is it possible Acosta is actually a pro-Trump false flag operating under deep cover in the media?
If so, he’s a genius. https://t.co/EvRYGrIQZI— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) January 10, 2019
A sincere and heartfelt “thank you” to @Acosta and @CNN for finally showing what @POTUS has been saying: barriers work! Great job Jim!!! https://t.co/jZx1NanMgh
— Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) January 10, 2019
Acosta has been reporting from McAllen throughout the day, primarily providing sound bites from residents who say there is no crisis in the town with a population of more than 140,000 people.
“Nadine has lived in the McAllen area about a decade. She says it’s safe here and hasn’t seen people coming across the border causing crime and mayhem,” reported Acosta before offering a sound bite from the interview.
Nadine has lived in the McAllen area about a decade. She says it’s safe here and hasn’t seen people coming across the border causing crime and mayhem. pic.twitter.com/EIaFAYhHgR
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019
“Jose has lived here in the McAllen, Texas, area his whole life. He also tells me it is very safe here,” Acosta reports in another clip.
Jose has lived here in the McAllen TX area his whole life. He also tells me it is very safe here. pic.twitter.com/GHRlW8nKf4
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019
The deadlock over border wall funding between the White House and Democratic leadership has led to a partial government shutdown which entered its 20th day on Thursday with no compromise solution in sight.
The president arrived in Texas at 1 p.m. CST for his visit to the border.
Updated at 8:28 p.m.
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