CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta claimed Tuesday night that conservative talk radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh had a “history of making derogatory comments about African-Americans,” without evidence.
Acosta, appearing live from outside the White House, told CNN that President Donald Trump had insulted African-Americans in his State of the Union Address by awarding the Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh.
He then made his inflammatory claim about Limbaugh:
Yes, the president had some heartwarming moments during this speech, but he was also engaging in some deeply divisive rhetoric aimed at immigrants, aimed at Latinos. And while, yes, he was trying to make appeals to the African-American community, it can’t be forgotten he was awarding the Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, who has a history of making derogatory comments about African-Americans. And so I think, you know, overall it’s a wash.
New Jersey middle school teacher charged with child sex assault after alleged sexual relationship with student
Appeals court pauses orders limiting federal agents’ use of tear gas at protests near Portland ICE building
United jet dodges Black Hawk in last-second maneuver over California airport: ‘That was not good’
BREAKING: Trump Ends DHS Payment Freeze Without Congress, Issues Immediate Orders to New DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin
Schumer, Dems block DHS funding again as Trump intervenes to pay TSA agents
Nancy Mace Poised to Side with Democrats to Pass War Powers Resolution: ‘War with Iran Needs to End’
Elon Musk demands judge’s recusal after latest flare-up over alleged bias
Trump declares national emergency at airports, to sign order instructing DHS to ‘immediately pay’ TSA officers
CPAC 2026 cools on Trump 2028 campaign
Alert: Olympic Committee Steps up to Protect Women, Bans Trans Athletes from Female Events
Bombshell Report: US Intel Finds Ukrainian Messages Detailing Plot to Swing Election Toward Biden
Andy Barr seeks to thwart ‘patently false’ Kentucky Senate ad with cease and desist
Netflix Denies Exec Called Muslims ‘Dangerous People’ After Reportedly Asking Comic to Cut Islam Joke
‘You can do everything right’: Crime reporter on sexual assault survival and lack of justice
CNN’s Scott Jennings Challenged to ‘Smackdown’ by Famous Never-Trumper
Acosta did not explain what the president’s “deeply divisive rhetoric” was, nor did he provide any proof of his accusations about Limbaugh.
Limbaugh’s long-serving producer and friend, James Golden, a.k.a. “Bo Snerdley” — who is black — reacted on Twitter by challenging Acosta to prove the claim:
I just saw the footage from CNN's Jim Acosta saying Rush has a "history" of saying disparaging things about African Americans. I have been in the studio with Rush for 30 years. I would like to formally challenge CNN and @Acosta to provide the list.
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 5, 2020
Limbaugh recently announced that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and will undergo treatment. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom in the gallery by First Lady Melania Trump.
Story cited here.
