Is Jim Acosta suggesting that America’s hardworking farmers can’t think for themselves? The former CNN host recently stirred controversy with remarks that seem to question the independence of rural voters, particularly farmers, in making their own political choices, as the Daily Caller reports. It’s a bold claim, and one that’s sure to raise eyebrows among those who till the soil and feed the nation.
During a discussion at the Center for American Progress on an unspecified date in 2025, Acosta voiced concerns about the influence of conservative voices on farmers, arguing they’re being swayed to support candidates on the political right.
“The far-right in this country has kind of figured out a way to infiltrate the heartland,” Acosta said. Well, that’s quite the accusation — implying farmers are mere pawns in a political game rather than discerning citizens with their own values and priorities. Perhaps Acosta underestimates the grit and wisdom it takes to run a farm.
Acosta’s critique sparks debate
In his comments, Acosta suggested that farmers are being “led astray” by conservative messaging, a statement that paints rural America as easily duped. If anything, farmers have proven time and again they’re savvy enough to navigate everything from volatile markets to unpredictable weather — why not politics?
He went further, claiming the current system of delivering news to Americans is broken and fails to provide reliable information. One might wonder if Acosta considers his own track record at CNN as part of that “reliable” standard, given his history of contentious claims.
“And as it turns out, a lot of these folks vote in these elections and a lot of those folks have been completely led astray,” Acosta lamented.
Calling farmers misguided while ignoring their overwhelming support for certain leaders — like the 77% of farming-dependent counties backing Donald Trump in 2024, per Investigate Midwest — feels more like elitism than concern.
Trump retains strong support among rural communities
Exit polls reinforce this rural trend, with AEI data showing 63% of rural voters supporting Trump in 2024, and a CNN poll indicating a 30-point lead among the same group.
Clearly, Trump’s policies during his first term and current tenure have resonated with farmers, who likely appreciate tangible actions over patronizing words.
Yet Acosta seems convinced the problem lies in how news reaches these communities, insisting the delivery model “has to change.” It’s a curious stance — does he believe farmers can’t sift through information themselves, or is this just another jab at conservative media?
Referencing the late Rush Limbaugh, Acosta tied his critique to a broader narrative about unreliable news sources. One might ask if Acosta’s own reporting, including past dismissals of credible stories like Hunter Biden’s laptop in 2020 as “fake news,” meets the reliability bar he sets for others.
Acosta’s history of controversial statements
Acosta’s track record includes other eyebrow-raising moments, like accusing Trump of an unhealthy fixation on Joe Biden’s son during 2020 coverage.
Such comments, alongside his agreement on The Jim Acosta Show in April 2025 with the notion that Democrats should attack Trump more harshly, suggest a pattern of bias over balance.
On May 29 of this year, Acosta even speculated to Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett about Trump potentially effectuating her arrest, while fretting over ICE actions against unauthorized migrants. It’s a stretch to equate law enforcement duties with political vendettas, but Acosta seems comfortable leaping.
His White House days weren’t without drama either — Acosta’s hard pass was suspended during Trump’s first term after a microphone tug-of-war with an intern, though a judge later reinstated it. Turns out, actions have consequences, even for seasoned journalists.
Are farmers misled or misunderstood?
At the heart of Acosta’s remarks is a disconnect — farmers aren’t just voting blindly; they’re backing leaders who’ve prioritized their livelihoods, as seen in Trump’s appeal to rural America. To suggest otherwise risks alienating the very people who keep food on our tables.
Maybe it’s not the farmers who are “led astray,” but rather commentators like Acosta who’ve lost touch with the heartland’s pulse. Rural voters, with their clear preferences in 2024, aren’t sheep — they’re stakeholders in a nation they help sustain.
Acosta’s call for a news overhaul might have merit if it focused on mutual understanding rather than condescension. Until then, farmers will likely keep voting their conscience, not someone else’s narrative — and that’s a harvest of democracy worth respecting.
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Author: Mae Slater
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