A fiery exchange has erupted between former CNN anchor Jim Acosta and Fox News host Jesse Watters, centering around the ongoing construction of a ballroom at the White House. Acosta, 54, has been vocal in his criticism of the project, prompting on-air jabs from Watters. In response, Acosta took to social media platform X on Wednesday, where he labeled Watters a “rapidly aging Fox propagandist” and likened him to a “outrage [adult film] star.” Acosta further suggested that Watters “has a major crush on me,” adding humorously, “Two segments in the last week. Dude, take a cold shower. The feeling will go away. Maybe Sean [Hannity] can give you a hug? Also, less makeup. A little too Madame Tussauds.”

In the segments Acosta referenced, Watters accused the former CNN journalist of politicizing the ballroom project. Watters, 47, mockingly referred to Acosta’s stance as “Ballroom Derangement Syndrome.” On his show, Jesse Watters Primetime, Watters quipped, “The Democrats are fighting over a ballroom. Just like during COVID, CNN has a live tracker. Jim Acosta is camping outside the White House in tears. He’s just mad Trump’s building a big, beautiful thing during the [Chuck] Schumer shutdown, when the whole point of the shutdown is suffering.”

Watters continued his critique by stating, “Republican presidents aren’t supposed to enjoy their presidencies. They’re supposed to be under siege, hounded out of town like scoundrels, and constantly having to flip-flop, apologize, and fire staff. Not Trump. He’s making peace, building big, beautiful things, tossing sombreros on their heads.” In another segment last week, Watters showcased a photoshopped image depicting Acosta’s face on a baby’s body, further fueling the feud.

An accompanying chyron read: ‘Baby Jim wins a TDS Award.’ TDS is an acronym for ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’, a term conservatives use to pan liberals critical of Trump. ‘JUST IN: A new STRAIN OF TDS is SPREADING— “Ballroom Derangement Syndrome”‘ Watters wrote on Facebook Friday as he reshared the clip of Acosta and others speaking out against Trump’s demolition.

Acosta had announced ‘he was at the scene of the crime’ while standing outside the complex in the clip, posted to his Substack on October 22. Acosta, a former CNN White House correspondent, left the network in January as Trump began his second term.

Watters accused him of trying to be ‘the Rosa Parks’ of journalism in 2019 after a viral incident that saw Acosta’s press pass revoked after he struggled with a White House intern over a microphone. ‘This from a lapdog for the White House,’ Acosta responded at the time.