Jim Acosta, the former CNN host, found himself the subject of ridicule after suggesting that Donald Trump lacks the energy for rallies, despite the former president delivering a lengthy 100-minute speech to his supporters that same evening.

During an appearance on Molly Jong-Fast’s podcast, “Fast Politics,” Acosta delved into the debate about Trump’s endurance, claiming the former president is now too worn out to continue his rally schedule.

Acosta, who left CNN earlier this year following a proposal to shift him to a less desirable time slot, argued that Trump seems “extremely tired” while managing his daily responsibilities at the White House.

“Having covered him closely, I can say, where are the press conferences? He doesn’t hold them anymore,” Acosta remarked.

“These days, he merely invites kids into the room, berates them, and then dismisses them. That’s his version of a Q&A session now, whether on Air Force One or in the Oval Office,” he added.

“He’s not conducting press conferences or rallies like he used to,” Acosta concluded.

Critics said Acosta beclowned himself as his remarks came on the same day Trump held a fiery rally in Pennsylvania to kickoff a tour to protect Republican majorities in next year’s midterm elections. 

Trump directly addressed rumors over his health after the rally, particularly taking aim at the New York Times after it published a story noting his reduced public events and implying the 79-year-old president’s age had caught up with him. 

Former CNN host Jim Acosta was mocked after he tried to argue Donald Trump is too ‘tired’ to hold rallies – on the same night the president gave a 100-minute speech to supporters

Acosta’s remarks on Tuesday came on the same day Trump held a fiery rally in Pennsylvania to kickoff a tour to protect Republican majorities in next year’s midterm elections

Trump said at the event: ‘There has never been a President that has worked as hard as me! My hours are the longest, and my results are among the best.’ 

Talk of Trump’s health accelerated last month as it was revealed that he underwent an MRI, and the president has repeatedly appeared to nod off at White House events in recent weeks. 

In his Truth Social post after Tuesday’s rally, Trump admitted he underwent ‘long, thorough and very boring’ exams at Walter Reed Medical Center but claimed doctors were stunned by his pristine health. 

‘Seen and supervised by top doctors, all of whom have given me PERFECT Marks — Some have even said they have never seen such Strong Results. I do these Tests because I owe it to our Country,’ Trump noted.

He added: ‘In addition to the Medical, I have done something that no other President has done, on three separate occasions, the last one being recently, by taking what is known as a Cognitive Examination, something which few people would be able to do very well, including those working at The New York Times, and I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know.’ 

But Acosta said he was not impressed by Trump’s recent displays in office during his podcast appearance on Tuesday, as he pointed to a special election in Tennessee last week that Republicans only won by a small margin despite it being held in a strongly Republican district. 

Rumors over Trump’s health and stamina have ignited in recent weeks as the president has repeatedly appeared to nod off at White House events 

‘Remember that special election in Tennessee, he literally phoned it in,’ Acosta said. ‘He called [Speaker] Mike Johnson and Mike Johnson held the cell phone up to the cameras. 

‘Donald Trump was talking about how they can’t lose this ruby red district in Tennessee. In the old days, he would have done the hangar rally where he flies in and gets off of Air Force One and it costs the taxpayers a billion dollars. 

‘Doesn’t do that anymore.’ 

Acosta’s remarks sparked backlash from supporters of Trump, who said his take was undercut by the president holding a rally on the same day he was supposedly too ‘exhausted’ to do so.

Conservative commentator Bo Snerdley wrote on X: ‘Jim Acosta made a fool of himself while trying to portray Trump as diminished.’ 

Another added: ‘Jim Acosta is nothing but a joke. 

‘This guy is washed up and needs to go crawl back under the rock he came from.’