Acosta Questions ICE Raids While Mentioning Ivana Trump

Jim Acosta, a former CNN host, brought up Ivana Trump, the late ex-wife of Donald Trump, during recent discussions about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. This comes amid ICE raids in the Los Angeles area, which have led to widespread protests.

Acosta suggested that instead of targeting immigrants, ICE should focus on Trump’s properties, including Ivana’s burial site. He remarked, “But I have a question: Where is the ICE raid at Trump’s facility? … Can someone call ICE at Trump golf course in Virginia? Give me a break! How many immigrants did he marry? There’s one buried on his golf course in New Jersey! Is she buried in the first hole or the second tee?”

He continued, “Immigrants are always doing work that Americans don’t want to do! Isn’t that a deal?”

Ivana Trump, who passed away in 2022 at 73, was a Czechoslovak-American model. She married Trump in 1977 and divorced him in 1992. Her grave is located at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

The raids that triggered the protests in Los Angeles focused on illegal immigrants with serious criminal backgrounds, including convictions for murder and drug offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Acosta later expressed frustration when Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was removed from a press conference related to the Los Angeles incidents. “This isn’t how U.S. senators are treated in this country. They should be ashamed of themselves,” he stated. “Everyone who works in that administration should be embarrassed when a senator tries to ask questions about what happened in Los Angeles.”

On January 28, Acosta announced his departure from CNN after about 18 years, noting he wanted to move on as the network shifted his program time. He had previously served as CNN’s White House correspondent during Trump’s first term and had numerous confrontations with the administration. Access to the White House was cut off for Acosta in November 2018 after a contentious exchange with Trump.

A judge later ruled in favor of Acosta, stating his rights had been infringed upon when the White House revoked his press pass.