NEW: Jim Acosta Targets Karoline Leavitt, Immediately Regrets It

Karoline Leavitt didn’t waste a golden opportunity on stage to kick Jim Acosta while he’s down, telling attendees at this week’s Conservative Political Action Conference that the disgraced former CNN reporter shouldn’t be barking at her while sitting at home on his couch.

Two weeks ago, Acosta announced he was departing the network he’s called home for 20 years after head honchos demoted him to the midnight slot, effectively putting his career on ice in the “Siberia” of newscasting. They did so, sources say, to stay in the good graces of Leavitt and others in the Trump administration who have demonstrated they have the power to boot entire network teams from the Oval Office any time they wish.

Leavitt, who was invited to talk about her first month as the nation’s youngest White House press secretary in history, thoroughly dissected Acosta in response to his suggestion she could become one of President Donald Trump’s “all-time liars” if she keeps working at it.

“Since you brought up Jim Acosta: He’s been saying some not-so-nice things about me online, and I’ve resisted responding. But since you brought him up, I’d like to say: Jim, at least I have a job, Jim. OK? Just saying,” she said to roaring applause.

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The clapback comes about a week after Acosta appeared on the liberal podcast Meidas Touch and mocked Leavitt as a “kid” who is “telling you a tall tale.”

“She might just get on Trump’s all-star team of liars.” Acosta said. “She might be on the bench right now, but if she keeps working hard, she does her homework, she just might make it onto the team.”

“It’s sort of like…when your kid is telling you a tall tale, and you’re just looking at them like, ‘Okay Johnny, sure, yeah, I believe you … and you just walk away saying, ‘What the hell. That kid’s not telling me the truth.’”

The sting of demotion is obviously still fresh for Acosta as he seeks out a new platform and form of relevancy. Wherever he lands, it’s safe to predict that Leavitt won’t be letting him back in the White House briefing room anytime soon.

Leavitt, 27, has plenty on her plate without worrying about what her critics are saying. She’s reprimanded scribes like unruly children from the podium, reminding them that 70% of Americans approve of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency’s work while a respectable majority approve of Trump’s job performance. She has played a role in booting legacy outlets like Reuters and the Associated Press from pool coverage in favor of conservative outlets like The Blaze or Jack Posobiec, a MAGA influencer who recently accompanied Trump officials on an overseas diplomatic trip.