Jim Acosta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Acosta
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Acosta in February 2016
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Abilio James Acosta
April 17, 1971 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | James Madison University (BA) |
| Occupation | News anchor |
| Employer | CNN |
| Known for | Chief Domestic Affairs Correspondent & Anchor for CNN |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Mobley Stow (m. 1999; div. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
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Jim Acosta, born on April 17, 1971, is an American journalist who works for CNN. He is currently an anchor and the chief domestic correspondent.
Before this, Acosta was CNN's chief White House correspondent during the Trump administration. He became well-known for his direct questions to President Donald Trump during press conferences. Acosta also reported on the Obama administration as a senior White House correspondent for CNN. In January 2021, he became an anchor and chief domestic correspondent.
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Early Life and Education
Acosta's father came to the U.S. from Santa María del Rosario, Cuba, when he was 11 years old. This was just before the Cuban Missile Crisis. He grew up in Virginia. Acosta's mother has Irish and Czech family roots. His father's family originally came from the Canary Islands.
Acosta grew up in Northern Virginia. He graduated from Annandale High School in 1989. In 1993, he earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from James Madison University. He also studied political science. While in college, Acosta volunteered at WXJM, the student radio station. He also worked as a reporter at WSVA, a local radio station.
Jim Acosta's Media Career
Jim Acosta started his career in radio. His first job was at WMAL in Washington, DC. In 1994, Acosta moved into television. He worked as a desk assistant for Fox affiliate WTTG-TV. In 1995, Acosta began reporting on camera. He became a reporter and fill-in anchor at NBC affiliate WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. He stayed there until 1998.
From 1998 to 2000, Acosta worked as a reporter for CBS affiliate KTVT-TV in Dallas. From 2000 to 2001, he was a reporter for WBBM-TV in Chicago. From 2001 to 2003, Acosta worked as a correspondent for CBS News' Newspath service. He was based in both Dallas and Chicago. From 2003 to 2007, Acosta was a correspondent for CBS News. He was based first in New York City and then in Atlanta.
At CBS News, Acosta covered the 2004 presidential campaign of John Kerry. He also reported on the Iraq War from Baghdad and Hurricane Katrina. In April 2007, Acosta joined CNN. Over the next year, he covered the 2008 presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He often appeared as an anchor on CNN's weekend political show, Ballot Bowl. Acosta later joined CNN's American Morning program as a correspondent. He also helped cover the 2010 midterm elections.
In February 2012, CNN made Acosta a national political correspondent. In this role, he was the main correspondent covering the 2012 presidential campaign of Mitt Romney. After that, he became the senior White House correspondent for CNN. In November 2015, Acosta asked President Obama a direct question about his plan to fight the terrorist group ISIS.
Acosta traveled to Cuba in March 2016. He covered President Obama's important trip to the island. During a rare press conference in Havana with Obama and Cuban president Raúl Castro, Acosta questioned the Cuban leader about human rights in his country.
On January 9, 2018, Acosta was promoted to chief White House correspondent. In January 2021, CNN announced that Acosta would become chief domestic correspondent and weekend anchor. These changes happened as the Biden administration began.
Reporting on President Trump
Jim Acosta had several notable interactions with President Trump during press conferences. In May 2016, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called Acosta "a real beauty" during a press conference. This happened when Acosta asked Trump about how he handles tough questions.
During President-elect Trump's first press conference in January 2017, Acosta tried to ask a question about Russia. However, Trump did not call on him and described Acosta and CNN as "fake news".
Acosta had a strong debate with White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller in August 2017. This was during a White House press conference about the RAISE Act. This interaction made Acosta known as a challenging reporter for CNN against the Trump administration. In August 2018, Acosta asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if she agreed with CNN. She did not directly answer, but spoke about how the media treated her.
White House Press Pass Suspension
Acosta had a heated exchange with President Trump during a White House press conference on November 7, 2018. This was after the 2018 midterm elections. During the press conference, President Trump answered Acosta's question about immigration. Then, Trump moved on to another journalist. However, Acosta tried to ask more questions and spoke over Trump and other reporters. Trump repeatedly told Acosta, "that's enough," and to "put down the mic." Trump later called him "a rude, terrible person."
The White House Press Secretary said Acosta interfered with an intern who was holding the microphone. She said he pushed her arm aside. After this, Acosta's press pass, which allowed him into the White House, was suspended. CNN said Acosta's suspension was "retaliation for his challenging questions."
The next day, the White House shared a video of the incident. CNN said the video had been changed. The White House said the video was not altered, but sped up.
CNN and Acosta filed a lawsuit on November 13, 2018. They sued President Trump and other White House officials. They asked the court to order the White House to let Acosta have his press pass back. Many news organizations supported CNN's case.
On November 16, a judge ordered that Acosta's press pass be given back for 14 days. The judge believed Acosta's rights might have been violated. CNN later dropped the lawsuit on November 19. This happened after the White House fully restored Acosta's press credentials.
Published Works
Jim Acosta has written books about his experiences as a journalist.
Images for kids
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Jim Acosta's signature
See also
In Spanish: Jim Acosta para niños
