Trump announces Labor Secretary Acosta's resignation over Epstein plea deal, expresses regret, and blames the media

President Trump, with Acosta at his side, told reporters he "hate[s] to see this happen" and did not ask Acosta to leave. Later, Trump tweeted that Acosta stepped down because of "the constant drumbeat of press" about the 2008 prosecution, framing the resignation as a defense of the administration rather than accountability for the lenient deal with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Alex Acosta ... informed me this morning that he felt the constant drumbeat of press about a prosecution which took place under his watch more than 12 years ago was bad for the Administration, which he so strongly believes in, and he graciously tendered his resignation.” — Trump tweeted this statement framing Acosta's resignation as a voluntary, gracious act prompted by unfair media pressure, rather than accountability for the lenient 2008 plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein.