If the Guinness World Records were to ever have a category for self-owning, this tweet by CNN's Jim Acosta would definitely be towards the top of the list.
Acosta apparently thought his January 10 tweet was an argument for why a border wall is unnecessary. Instead, he accidentally revealed why a border barrier such as the steel slats he featured were very effective in stopping the flow of illegals.
Watch while Acosta shows just how successful the steel slats, which President Trump has recommended, are as a barrier even though the clueless CNN correspondent thinks he is making the opposite case.
I found some steel slats down on the border. But I don’t see anything resembling a national emergency situation.. at least not in the McAllen TX area of the border where Trump will be today. pic.twitter.com/KRoLdszLUu
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019
Here's what he said in the video:
And here's some of the steel slats that the President has been talking about, right here. As you can see, yes you can see through these slats to the other side of the US-Mexico border but as we're walking along here we're not seeing any kind of imminent danger. There are not migrants trying to rush towards this fence here in the McAllen, Texas area. As a matter of fact, there are some other businesses behind me along this highway. There's a gas station, Burger King, and so on but no sign of the national emergency that the President has been talking about. As a matter of fact, it's pretty tranquil down here.
You're right, Jim. It is pretty tranquil there because that steel slat fence you featured is preventing migrants from trying to rush across the border as you correctly pointed out. The residents of that area and the nearby businesses are not seeing any kind of imminent danger due to that steel slat fence.
Of course, this hilarious self-owning by Acosta inspired quite a bit of amused reaction. Here is just a very small sampling:
Yeah, that's the point of a wall. Now hang out where there's no wall. At night.
— NotWithAnybody (@NotWithAnybody) January 10, 2019
I’m no immigration expert but maybe they’re trying to immigrate at border locations that don’t have giant steel slats. Just a thought Jim but seriously, keep up the great work. This is great reporting. Can’t fix stupid
— Matty (@grandparhodes) January 10, 2019
This is the self own of the century. @Acosta https://t.co/G53sxZQ8y8
— Matt Revel (@Matt_Revel) January 10, 2019
I guess the steel slats worked in McAllen. We should go ahead and put them everywhere.
— Joel Bussjaeger (@JoelBussjaeger) January 10, 2019
Later, Acosta tried to stop the bleeding:
The steel slats don’t run the entire length of the border in the McAllen area. We found one part where there is a chain link fence. Occasionally migrants come thru but residents say their community is quite safe. pic.twitter.com/ivpPl0XT48
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019
Exit question: How long before @realDonaldTrump retweets Acosta accidentally making the case for why a border wall (or steel slat fence) is needed?