'Step outside': Journalists almost come to blows over Epstein reporter

Journalists Jim Acosta and Michael Tracey appear to have almost come to blows after the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Acosta accused Tracey of "bullying" Epstein investigator Julie K. Brown. According to posts by Tracey, ex-CNN host Acosta “threatened to fight” him at the Substack party after the official event.

Tracey posted about the threat on X, then in a somewhat unhinged thread, provided further details; including claims of Acosta saying, "Let's step outside," and then accusing him of having his "security do his dirty work instead."

Tracey then explained, "He wanted to fight me over Epstein shit, I would have fought him if security didn't intervene. Pussy."

Jim, I’m literally waiting for you right now, you piece of shit pic.twitter.com/RR8YgNyuCL

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 26, 2026

Jim Acosta, Michael Tracey almost come to blows

Tracey has developed a reputation as an outspoken critic of so-called conspiracy theories and accusations about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Acosta, however, is a detractor of Donald Trump and his associates.

Reportedly, after his confrontation with Acosta at the Substack party, Tracey invited him to meet outside of a Washington, D.C. Hampton Inn to "finish what he had started".

Tracey later added on X:

“Still have no idea whatever went on with Trump tonight [referring to the security threat], just know Jim @Acosta threw a f*ckin’ hissing fit. P*ssy! Jim, meet me in front of the Hampton Inn.”

Tracey followed that up with yet another post that included a picture of the Hampton Inn, with the caption, “Jim, I’m literally waiting for you right now, you piece of sh*t.”

Acosta responded only to Tracey’s original post: “That’s because you are trash.”

But the next morning, he explained, “We saw what you did at the Substack party. You were bullying @jkbjournalist in a menacing way and would not let her walk away from you. Your behavior was shameful and ugly."

“So yes, I stepped in as did several other people, including security, to escort Brown away from you.”

Brown later spoke out about the incident.

“@Acosta was a true gentleman who came to my aid last night after Tracey began screaming and blocking me from trying to leave the event.

"Acosta and several other men had to stand in his way to stop him from following me. He has been harassing Epstein’s victims for a long time, even to the point of showing up at Virginia’s [Giuffre] vigil yesterday.”

Top image: Jim Acosta, Michael Tracey. Image: X

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