Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly had harsh words for the White House press corps at a private party in New York. And he singled out CNN’s Jim Acosta.
O’Reilly said the remarks to members of the press and administration gathered for the celebration of Trump’s Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell in New York City.
The combative former Fox host told the room that he would strangle CNN’s Jim Acosta if given the chance and that “heads would have rolled” if he were the White House press secretary.
The acting White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, was in the room as well.
According to the New York Post:
“Bill O’Reilly was a surprise guest, and said in a speech to the crowd, which included Sarah Huckabee Sanders, that “heads would have rolled” if he’d been at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and, “I would love just to get my big hands around Jim Acosta’s neck.”
In response to the quote, CNN’s media correspondent had this to say:
O’Really? According to @PageSix, @BillOReilly told a bunch of Fox hosts and Trump officials that “I would love just to get my big hands around Jim @Acosta‘s neck.” https://t.co/5KpXIoD05s
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 8, 2018
O’Reilly was fired from Fox News after allegations of and payment for sexual misconduct were made public.
O’Reilly told the Post’s Page Six of the allegations against other news anchors “deserves its due course. There is not a lot of sympathy out there [for accused men].”