In an interview with Variety Magazine, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta attacked the intelligence of regular Americans claiming that “they don’t have all of their faculties in some cases.”

Acosta was being interviewed for a story called “Inside the Intense, Combative World of Covering the Trump White House.”

In an accompanying video he said, “they just aren’t smart enough to understand that ‘fake news’ is not a call to violence.”

“The problem is that people around the country don’t know it’s an act,” Acosta said of Trump labeling some news outlets “fake news.”

“They’re not in on the act and they take what he says very seriously and they take attacks from Sean Spicer and Sarah Sanders and what they do to us on a daily basis very seriously,” he added.

“They don’t have all their faculties in some cases — their elevator might not hit all floors.”

“My concern is that a journalist is gonna get hurt one of these days,” he concluded.

The story provoked what may be actor James Woods’ funniest tweet to date:

We pray for their survival. Can’t imagine anything so dangerous or challenging. Three very brave women! pic.twitter.com/CXXMp0HEZN — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) April 25, 2018

Acosta says his comments were misinterpreted. He offered the following explanation: