Jim Acosta Calls for Scott Jennings’ Dismissal Following On-Air Altercation

Former CNN journalist Jim Acosta has publicly urged that his ex-colleague Scott Jennings be terminated, alleging that Jennings breached professional conduct during a tumultuous on-air argument with another panelist.

“This is unacceptable—really a serious issue. I think he needs to be fired. I’ve been saying it for a while. He should go,” Acosta stated during a recent episode.

The clash involving Jennings occurred on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” as the discussion turned contentious between Jennings and influencer Adam Mokler, centering on the U.S. position regarding the conflict in Iran.

Mokler pointedly remarked, “Scott Jennings is eager to champion a war with Iran, but the reality is, we’re currently failing, and it’s going to add trillions more to our debt.”

In response, Jennings maintained that the ongoing conflict was anything but the “endless war” Mokler implied. He retorted, “Your attention span is like that of a gnat.”

The discussion escalated, with Mokler pressing Jennings to provide evidence of any successes in the war, claiming it was “failing.”

“Keep your hands away from my face,” Jennings exclaimed, gesturing towards Mokler.

After the segment aired, Mokler took to social media to address the incident: “Scott Jennings accused me of hitting him. Watch the full clip to get the real story. He resorts to personal attacks and crumbles under pressure. He might enjoy cooking, but he can’t stay calm,” he posted.

Acosta, who previously served as a correspondent at CNN, and Jennings worked together at the network for eight years until Acosta’s departure in 2025. While Acosta feels strongly that Jennings’ behavior warrants immediate action, he did commend CNN anchor Abby Phillip for not intervening to diffuse the situation.

“He has been dodging accountability for too long. They should tell him it’s time to leave, and do it today,” Acosta remarked.

CNN has yet to provide a response to inquiries regarding the incident.