CNN’s Acosta, Former Trump Aide, Exchange Sharp Words Over Hegseth Nomination

CNN anchor Jim Acosta and former Trump aide-turned-CNN analyst David Urban sparred on Wednesday over whether Fox News host Pete Hegseth had sufficiently criticized the January 6 rioters in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Hegseth, known for hosting Fox & Friends Weekend, has recently been named by former President Donald Trump as his choice to lead the Department of Defense. This nomination has reignited discussions about Hegseth’s past remarks, though criticism largely comes from "far-left TV talking heads."

During his show, Acosta aired clips from Hegseth’s reporting on January 7, 2021, using them to question Urban’s claim that Hegseth had condemned the actions of the rioters. The exchange between the two became heated as Urban defended Hegseth's statements.

Here’s the exchange, via Mediaite:

JIM ACOSTA: Yeah. And I do also want to say, you know, Pete Hegseth, when he was at Fox, was praising some of the stop the steel protesters on January 6th. And I want to play some of that and get your reaction, David.

PETE HEGSETH: Reporting for Fox and Friends yesterday morning on the ground. I said a couple of times, you know, this feels like a constitutional tinderbox. It had that feel to it. But it wasn’t because Donald Trump gave a speech and then told people to do something at the Capitol. That’s not what happened.

This is the result of of of of a, you know, a frustration that a lot of people feel that I frankly wasn’t surprised. I’m not saying it’s okay. I’m not saying all those things, but the images didn’t shock me.

JIM ACOSTA: David. I mean, you know, I’m just wondering what your reaction to that is. I mean, shouldn’t you, shouldn’t the future defense secretary blast those rioters for the violence–.

DAVID URBAN: (overtalking) He said– he said– he said it’s not– He did!

JIM ACOSTA: –That you saw, the violence that we saw that day? No, he didn’t!

DAVID URBAN: No, he did. He is Jim, he just said, listen, you want to roll the tape again? He said “It’s not okay. I’m not saying it’s okay. I’m not saying it’s all right.”.

Listen, I condemn that those those images you showed? Anybody that assaults a police officer should go to jail. Anybody who breaks the law like that, anyone who’s who is assaulting a police officer should be punished. Okay?

There should be no– I have no I have no you know, I have no sympathy for any of that.

Now, flip to the other side of the Capitol and you know this, Jim. We– you watch the tapes. You’re a smart guy on the other side of the Capitol, on the Supreme Court side of the Capitol. There was a war waging on one side of the Capitol, which I applaud the Capitol Police for their restraint and their heroism in that, because.

JIM ACOSTA: It sounds to me.

DAVID URBAN: Jim hold on–.

JIM ACOSTA: It does sound as though he is he is excusing it to a large extent, and perhaps he’ll be asked about it during his confirmation hearings–.

DAVID URBAN: He was Jim. He was condemn–. Jim he condemned it. He’ll be asked.

JIM ACOSTA: Alright we’ll stay tuned for that. We’ll be right back.

Trump formally announced Hegseth’s nomination on Tuesday, expressing strong support.

“I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," Trump said in a statement. "Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”

Highlighting Hegseth’s credentials, Trump continued, “Pete is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a Graduate Degree from Harvard University. He is an Army Combat Veteran who served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his battlefield actions, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, using that platform to advocate for our Military and Veterans. His recent book, The War on Warriors, spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at NUMBER ONE.”

Trump concluded by emphasizing Hegseth’s advocacy work: “The book reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors and the need to restore meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence in our Military. Pete has also led two Veterans Advocacy organizations, tirelessly championing the needs of our Warriors and Veterans. Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”