Rep. Tim Burchett recently took on CNN’s Jim Acosta, providing a memorable moment that highlighted the deep divisions between conservative politicians and what they often view as a biased liberal media. Burchett’s appearance on CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta centered around the controversial pardons issued by President Donald Trump for individuals involved in the January 6th events. True to form, Acosta attempted to corner Burchett by associating him with any future misconduct by those pardoned.
Acosta questioned, “I just want to ask you if any of these people who were released from prison, if any of them commit crimes in the future, should Donald Trump take personal responsibility for that?” It seemed a clear attempt to hold Trump culpable for actions that had yet to occur. Burchett, however, was unyielding, returning the question to Acosta with a pointed comparison: “No more than Joe Biden should take personal responsibility for the 14 million people, for Laken Riley losing her life because he didn’t have enough guts to enforce the law,” thus redirecting the issue towards perceived shortcomings of the current administration.
Acosta, visibly perturbed, responded, “I’m not talking about Joe Biden!” But Burchett wasn’t deterred, and the conversation quickly took a turn that showcased media bias. When Acosta attempted to lecture Burchett on CNN’s standards by saying, “This is not Fox, congressman. You can’t just spin a tale and pull the wool over people’s eyes. This is CNN,” Burchett swiftly delivered a sharp retort. With a dose of humor, he stated, “And that’s why more people are watching the Cartoon Network, Spongebob reruns right now. Jim,” highlighting CNN’s struggles with viewership in a media landscape where credibility is paramount.
CNN's Jim Acosta: "I just want to ask you if — if any of these people who were released from prison, if any of them commit crimes in the future, should Donald Trump take personal responsibility for that?"@TimBurchett: "No more than Joe Biden should take personal responsibility… pic.twitter.com/AniHmDbim4
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 22, 2025
Burchett continued, “Look, I left the White House during a riot. My life was threatened.” This reference to personal threats emphasized the heightened tensions faced by many in political office. He stressed the lack of coverage these threats receive from networks like CNN, suggesting an imbalance in their reporting priorities. “My life has been threatened within the last few weeks, yet there’s no coverage of that. And you all continue this, this narrative of attacking Trump. You just can’t stand the fact that he won and that America spoke and that your view is very diminished,” Burchett pointed out, challenging the overarching narrative held by networks targeting Trump.
Acosta attempted to interject, but Burchett had effectively taken control of the conversation. The power of this exchange lay in Burchett’s ability to expose the bias he perceived in liberal media. His calm demeanor coupled with strong rebuttals left a mark on viewers who resonate with a pro-Trump perspective.
OUCH. @TimBurchett absolutely bodies CNN's Jim Acosta as the network losing to Spongebob reruns….
Acosta: "This is this is not Fox, congressman. You can't just spin a tale and pull the wool over people's eyes. This is CNN. This is the news. We are asking you to come on and… pic.twitter.com/AUfWPwPH49
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 22, 2025
For those who support Trump, Burchett’s performance is a rallying cry against the continuous attempts by networks like CNN to undermine Trump’s legacy. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing political and media battles that define the current landscape.