Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer took aim at CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta in a Tuesday evening appearance on Fox News.
“With respect to Mr. Acosta, what this comes down to in the recent tweet that he sent with respect to Sarah Sanders, he said that she, by not calling him, didn’t show courage. Let’s be honest. Jim Acosta is a carnival barker that is clueless and classless,” Spicer declared, adding “Don’t talk about not getting a question being a lack of courage. Courage will serve this country and act like an adult.”
Acosta struck back at Spicer saying:
Leave it to Sean to attack others with a term Obama once used for Trump…. “carnival barker.” https://t.co/q6IG6OGyaq https://t.co/gkGgeRDHuC
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 7, 2018
Spicer referenced Acosta’s accusation that White House press secretary Sanders lacks courage because she has not called on CNN in the past three White House press briefings. Sanders herself also struck back at Acosta at the time saying:
Courage isn’t taking “a question from CNN,” Jim. Courage is combat veterans Sgt. Peck and Staff Sgt. Dwyer – the two heroes at the briefing. #itsnotaboutyou https://t.co/kp5rYrtMpt
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) March 5, 2018