“Can You Say Kamala?”: Acosta Shuts Down Tense Interview with Trump’s Spokesman
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Michael Ciaglo
A heated exchange between CNN anchor Jim Acosta and former President Donald Trump’s spokesman, Corey Lewandowski, reached a breaking point Wednesday morning, leading Acosta to abruptly end the interview. The conversation quickly escalated after Acosta challenged Lewandowski on several topics, including mispronouncing Vice President Kamala Harris’ first name.
“You’ve been in this business a long time, you’re, I think you’re a mature grown-up,” Acosta said. “Can you say Kamala? Or you cannot say Kamala?”
This sharp question came after a tense back-and-forth that started with Acosta playing a clip of Trump confusing the leaders of Iran and North Korea during a Milwaukee campaign speech. Lewandowski, however, deflected the conversation, accusing Acosta of avoiding the facts about border crossings.
“Are you going to go with some of the facts?” Lewandowski demanded.
“We’re going with the facts, Corey,” Acosta shot back. “I don’t know about you.”
The tension only grew when Acosta questioned Trump’s claim that he had to cancel an outdoor rally because the Secret Service needed to protect him from an assassination attempt by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Acosta corrected the record, noting that reports indicate the plot came from the Iranian government, not North Korea.
“Why is he getting confused about that?” Acosta asked.
Lewandowski responded with a fiery rant, blaming President Joe Biden’s administration for an unrelated incident in Pennsylvania, where Trump allegedly faced an assassination attempt. “He took a bullet in the ear because the U.S. Secret Service wasn’t communicating with the people on the ground,” Lewandowski shouted. “Don’t you think that is an epic failure?”
Acosta calmly agreed, saying, “We reported it was an epic failure.”
The interview took a more contentious turn when Lewandowski mispronounced Harris’ name while listing Democratic leaders. “Whether it’s [Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro] Mayorkas or it’s Kamala or it’s Joe Biden—”
Acosta interrupted, “Can you say Kamala?” However, Lewandowski ignored the request and shifted to talk about immigration issues.
In an effort to end the escalating confrontation, Acosta said, “All right. I appreciate you coming on. Maybe we’ll have you back,” before cutting off the interview.
The fiery exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions between Trump’s camp and the media, with both sides clashing over facts, misstatements, and political tactics during the interview.
