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 | Journalist |
| Known for | CNN journalist and anchor (2007–2025) |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Mobley Stow (m. 1999; div. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
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Abilio James Acosta (born April 17, 1971) is an American journalist who reports on news for television. He worked for CNN from 2007 until January 2025. He was CNN's main reporter at the White House during the time of Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He became well-known for asking tough questions and sometimes having disagreements with President Trump during news conferences. In January 2021, Acosta became a news anchor and chief domestic correspondent for CNN. He made his final broadcast on CNN on January 28, 2025.
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Early Life and Education
Jim Acosta's father came to the U.S. from Cuba when he was 11 years old. This was just before the Cuban Missile Crisis. His family originally came from the Canary Islands. Jim Acosta's mother has Irish and Czech family roots.
Acosta grew up in Virginia and finished Annandale High School in 1989. In 1993, he earned a degree in mass communication from James Madison University. He also studied political science. While in college, Acosta volunteered at the student radio station, WXJM. He also worked as a reporter at a local radio station called WSVA. He married Sharon Mobley Stow in 1999, and they had two children. They divorced in 2017.
Media Career Highlights
Acosta started his career in radio at WMAL in Washington, D.C.. In 1994, he began working in television at WTTG-TV. He started as a desk assistant. By 1995, Acosta was reporting and filling in as an anchor at WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. He stayed there until 1998.
He then worked as a reporter for KTVT-TV in Fort Worth from 1998 to 2000. From 2000 to 2001, he was a reporter for WBBM-TV in Chicago. Acosta worked as a correspondent for CBS News from 2001 to 2007. He reported from Dallas, Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta. At CBS News, he 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. 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. He also helped with the network's coverage of the 2010 midterm elections.
In February 2012, CNN made Acosta a national political correspondent. In this role, he was the main reporter covering Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. He then became the senior White House correspondent for CNN. In November 2015, Acosta questioned President Obama about his plan to defeat the group known as ISIS.
Acosta traveled to Cuba in March 2016 to report on President Obama's visit. At a rare news conference with Obama and Cuban president Raúl Castro, Acosta asked the Cuban leader about his country's human rights record. On January 9, 2018, Acosta was promoted to chief White House correspondent. In January 2021, CNN announced that Acosta would become the network's chief domestic correspondent and weekend anchor. These changes happened as the Biden administration began.
Reporting on President Trump
Jim Acosta often reported on President Donald Trump. He became known for his direct questions during news conferences.
News Conferences with Trump
In May 2016, during a televised news conference, then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called Acosta "a real beauty." This happened after Acosta asked Trump about how he handles tough questions.
During President-elect Trump's first press conference in January 2017, Acosta tried to ask about Russia. However, Trump did not call on him and called CNN "fake news".
Acosta had a strong debate with White House advisor Stephen Miller in August 2017. This was about the Trump administration's support for a new immigration law. Many people saw this as Acosta becoming a main reporter who challenged the Trump administration for CNN. In August 2018, Acosta asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if she agreed that journalists were not "the enemy of the people." She did not directly answer his question.
White House Pass Suspension
Acosta had a verbal disagreement with President Trump during a White House press conference on November 7, 2018. This happened after the 2018 midterm elections. Trump answered Acosta's question about immigration but then moved on to another reporter. Acosta tried to ask more questions and spoke over others. Trump told Acosta, "that's enough," and to "put down the mic." Trump later called him "a rude, terrible person."
The White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, said Acosta interfered with an intern who was holding the microphone. After this, Acosta's press pass, which allowed him into the White House, was taken away. CNN said this was unfair and that Sanders was not telling the truth.
The next day, the White House shared a video that CNN said was edited. This video was similar to one posted by a conspiracy theorist. Experts later said the video had been slightly altered to make it look like Acosta pushed the intern's arm more forcefully.
CNN tried to get Acosta's pass back and prepared to sue. Legal experts said that journalists have a right to access places open to the press. They also said this access cannot be taken away without good reasons.
Lawsuit and Resolution
On November 13, 2018, CNN and Acosta filed a lawsuit against President Trump and other White House officials. They asked the court to order the White House to give Acosta his access back. Other news organizations supported CNN's case. The U.S. Department of Justice argued that the president could decide who he talks to.
A judge named Timothy Kelly heard the case. On November 16, he ordered Acosta's press credentials to be given back for 14 days. The judge believed Acosta's rights might have been violated. CNN dropped the lawsuit on November 19 after the White House fully restored Acosta's press pass. However, there were new rules, like reporters being limited to one question.
Acosta wrote about this experience in his 2019 book, The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America.
Leaving CNN
On January 23, 2025, CNN announced changes to its weekday schedule. This included replacing Acosta's show, CNN Newsroom, with a different program. Acosta announced on January 28, 2025, that he would leave CNN to explore new opportunities. He shared information about a new blog he started.
Published Works
- The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Jim Acosta para niños
