Chris Wallace 'horrified' by CNN's Acosta's conduct: 'It's not our job to one-up presidents'

Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) WallaceMurthy calls for people to be 'more vigilant' on omicron, but not to panic Ernst on Russian buildup on Ukraine border: 'We must prepare for the worst' Fauci to appear on Fox Business Friday for rare interview on the network MORE ripped Jim AcostaJames (Jim) AcostaLofgren: Many Jan. 6 panel witnesses are former Trump officials CNN's Acosta labels Tucker Carlson Jan. 6 series 'Proud Boy porn' Schiff says holding Bannon in criminal contempt 'a way of getting people's attention' MORE over a heated exchange the CNN chief White House correspondent had with President TrumpDonald TrumpMan sentenced to nearly four years for running scam Trump, Biden PACs Meadows says Trump's blood oxygen level was dangerously low when he had COVID-19 Trump endorses David Perdue in Georgia's governor race MORE during a press conference in India on Tuesday, saying Acosta made a "huge mistake" that "adds to the people questioning the credibility of the media."

"I was horrified by [Acosta]," Wallace said at a Columbia University event in New York City hosted by the Common Ground Committee on Tuesday night. "It’s not our job to get in fights with presidents. It’s not our job to one-up presidents. It’s our job to report on presidents."

"But to the degree we have responded to his attacks on us with attacks or advocacy in kind, there’s a huge mistake, and I think adds to people questioning the credibility of the media," the "Fox News Sunday" host said.

Acosta told Trump during a press conference in New Delhi that CNN's "record on delivering the truth is a lot better" than his "sometimes" after the president broached the topic of a recent report on Russia's election interference that CNN later walked back.

"I worry that the president’s attacks have given too many straight news reporters — not talking about the opinion page or prime time — an excuse or license to cross the line themselves and become players on the field, and I think that is a huge mistake," Wallace said. "It’s not our role. Our role is to be observers, umpires, fact-checkers, investigators — it’s not to be advocates. It’s not to be opponents."

Wallace was appearing with New York Times reporter Maggie HabermanMaggie Lindsy HabermanThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump's pre-debate COVID-19 test sparks criticism Fox News anchor deletes tweet suggesting Powell's death 'raises new concerns' about vaccine efficacy Peter Navarro mistakenly blasts Maggie Haberman for Katie Rogers' Grisham story MORE, also a CNN contributor, who said she agreed with Wallace on the media's role.