CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta on Wednesday told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has also served as an unofficial spokesman for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), that he was tough on former President Barack Obama.
"Listen, when I covered Barack Obama, I was just as tough on him," Acosta said.
"[The Obama administration] didn't like you either," Kimmel said.
"They didn't like me," Acosta agreed.
"You're universally disliked," Kimmel added.
"I am," Acosta said. "It's difficult to find a table at a restaurant in Washington. No, but I once asked Obama about ISIS, 'why can't we get these bastards?' The people at the White House under Obama were very ticked off about that."
Back in 2015, Acosta asked Obama why U.S. forces could not take the Islamic State "bastards’’ out.
Obama appeared to be annoyed with Acosta's question, saying he had spent the previous three questions answering the same thing and he had nothing more to add. He said the terror group was not a traditional military opponent and that his strategy would address that.
Acosta also asked Obama the tough question about his "best week ever."
Kimmel asked if Acosta has been the only reporter kicked out of a press event by the President of the United States.
"Are you the only reporter who's ever been kicked out of a press situation by the President of the United States?" Kimmel asked. In January, Trump told Acosta to get "out" of the Oval Office after Acosta asked a question about immigration. The corespondent has garnered a reputation for his vocal critiques of the Trump administration and for getting into tense exchanges with White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
"I think so. You know, I wear it as a badge of honor," Acosta answered. "I'm hated by the best people, or the worst people."