Fact check: Donald Trump called CNN reporter Jim Acosta a 'rude, terrible person' during a press conference.

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 79/100

The video and quotes are authentic recordings from a White House press conference held on November 7, 2018. While the claims accurately reflect the verbal exchange, the post is to be a historical clip shared in 2026 without temporal context and with highly sensationalist framing.

mostly true verification card — Trust Score 79/100
Platform
threads
Source author
moniviviny — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.threads.com/@moniviviny/post/DZFr4AlDQgr?xmt=AQG0aAc5MM9ybSdIjsrAiCP2bDa_iHWpfdNcoygqa5GyU6q0fSF_lJss6-lrio5aIZNvQcm3
Verified on
June 2, 2026
Verification ID
wk1HJyZvjQJwWNkM6JKKBQ

Original content reviewed

Platform: THREADS Author: @moniviviny --- Caption/Description --- Okay who was this hero? How come I missed this one? The thundercunt almost strokes out! --- Audio Transcript (What was said) --- [Background Music - Not Narration] with the Russian investigation because it's a hoax. That's enough. Put down the mic. Mr. President, are you worried about indictments coming down in this investigation? Mr. President. I'll tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN. Go ahead. I think that's unfair. You're a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. And the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn't treat people that way. Go ahead. Go ahead, Peter. In Jim's defense, I've traveled with him and watched him. He's a diligent reporter. Well, I'm not a big fan of yours either, so to be honest. So let me ask you a question if I can. You repeatedly said- You are the best. Mr. President, you repeatedly, over the course of- Okay, just sit down, please. Well, when you report fake news, no. When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people. Go ahead. ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: THREADS Author: @moniviviny --- Caption/Description --- Okay who was this hero? How come I missed this one? The thundercunt almost strokes out! --- Audio (Condensed) --- Trump calls the Russian investigation a hoax. He tells Jim Acosta to put down the mic, calling him a rude, terrible person who shouldn't work for CNN. He criticizes Acosta's treatment of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Trump tells Acosta to sit down and calls CNN fake news and the enemy of the people. --- Visible Text/Media --- Video of Donald Trump at a White House podium during a press conference, arguing with reporters Jim Acosta and Peter Alexander. --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Donald Trump called CNN reporter Jim Acosta a 'rude, terrible person' during a press conference.

Claims analyzed (5)

  1. verified: Donald Trump called CNN reporter Jim Acosta a 'rude, terrible person' during a press conference.
    Official transcripts and video recordings from the November 7, 2018, post-midterm press conference confirm Trump told Acosta, 'You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN.'
  2. verified: Donald Trump labeled the Russian investigation a 'hoax'.
    During the same press conference, Trump stated, 'I'm not concerned about anything with the Russia investigation because it's a hoax.'
  3. verified: Donald Trump stated that CNN is the 'enemy of the people' because they report 'fake news'.
    Trump explicitly told Acosta, 'When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people.'
  4. verified: Donald Trump criticized Jim Acosta's treatment of Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
    Trump told Acosta, 'The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible and the way you treat other people are horrible.'
  5. verified: Donald Trump ordered Jim Acosta to 'put down the mic' and 'sit down' during a Q&A session.
    Transcripts show Trump repeatedly saying 'That's enough' and 'Put down the mic' before telling Acosta to 'Just sit down.'

Sources consulted (9)

Related verifications

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