Yesterday, Real Newsmonger Jim Acosta reported Real News™ about Donald Trump to his Twitter followers:

Trump in Rose Garden speech paints asylum seekers with broad brush accusing them of misleading immigration authorities at border: “These are frivolous claims.” — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 16, 2019

The problem was that it wasn’t Real News, Mr. President:

Full quote: "Unfortunately legitimate asylum seekers are being displaced by those lodging frivolous claims." — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) May 16, 2019

The @TrumpWarRoom account tried to set the record straight by posting the full transcript of Trump’s remarks:

How can you do this and go home at night thinking you've turned in an honest day's work as a journalist? Full transcript of what President Trump actually said: pic.twitter.com/xmTPmHJ604 — Official Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 16, 2019

As well as video:

You know there's video proving you're lying, right? Trump: "Our nation has a proud history of affording protection to those fleeing government persecutions. Unfortunately, legitimate asylum seekers are being displaced by those lodging frivolous claims….My plan expedites relief" pic.twitter.com/Gvz93vZBh3 — Official Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 16, 2019

And Acosta promptly apologized for his mistake. Oh, wait. No he didn’t. He dug in his heels instead:

Hi @TrumpWarRoom.. in the transcript you provided you note that Trump describes asylum claims as “frivolous” and “meritless.” The transcript also notes Trump uses the term “asylum abuse.” Trump clearly is accusing asylum seekers of misleading immigration authorities as I said. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 16, 2019

You fight that fire, Jimbo.

More from the Washington Free Beacon’s Alex Griswold:

So this is the point where it becomes clear that Acosta was not mistaken, but actively deceptive. Acosta did not merely tweet that Trump was “accusing asylum seekers of misleading immigration authorities,” he accused him of implying that ALL asylum seekers were by “[painting] with [a] broad brush. I find it hard to believe he’s too thick to recognize the difference between … okay, no, maybe he is, but the point is, he’s probably just lying. Worse, Acosta then chose to retweet this from Tommy Christopher.

I believe the operative phrase here is "at border." Trump has repeatedly said asylum seekers at the border are coached to make false claims, here, he's saying they are displacing asylum seekers who apply without crossing. @Acosta is correct. https://t.co/UN2t4kd8Cf — Tormund XtopHodor, First of His Name (@tommyxtopher) May 17, 2019

What this argument amounts to is that, because Trump has made broad claims about asylees in the past, ipso facto Acosta was correct that he did so in the Rose Garden. Not so much a leap in logic as teleportation. If this is the best defense of his tweet, that’s rather pathetic.

“Rather pathetic” is pretty much par for the course with Jim Acosta. Well, that and utterly shameless, utterly dishonest hackery.

But… wouldn't "legitimate asylum seekers are being displaced by those lodging frivolous claims" at least merit a "some" in your description of what he said? I don't understand doubling down when "some" would make your statement accurate. — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) May 17, 2019

“Legitimate asylum seekers are being displaced by those lodging frivolous claims.” Just take the L and move on, Jimbo — #TeamBallard ?? (@E_G_T_B56) May 17, 2019