Trump Accuses Van Jones of Hypocrisy Over 'Dictator' Label After 2018 Justice Reform Win

President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on Monday against CNN legal analyst and commentator Van Jones, accusing him of hypocrisy for using the term 'dictator' to describe the former president.

The criticism came without clear provocation, though Jones has been a vocal critic of Trump’s presidency and rhetoric for years. Jones previously served as a Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation under President Barack Obama in 2009.

Trump Recalls 2018 Collaboration on Criminal Justice Reform

In a post on Truth Social, Trump revisited a past success: the passage of the First Step Act in 2018. The bipartisan criminal justice reform bill aimed to reduce recidivism and improve prison conditions. Trump framed the achievement as a rare bipartisan victory and credited himself for securing the necessary votes.

"When a devastated (he was crying like a baby!) Van Jones of CNN came to me with a group of African American leaders, he had ‘DEAD’ in getting Criminal Justice Reform approved in Congress," Trump wrote. "Van Jones and these Black reps had been unsuccessfully fighting to get ‘Reform’ for many years. He was just wasting everyone’s time – Needed 5 Conservative Senators – there was no chance, or even hope, for a win. I liked some of the people he was with, agreed with what they were saying, and quickly rounded up the votes needed to get CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM approved."

"It was NOT easy! Nobody else, including Obama, who tried to for years, could have done this!" Trump added. "Now I watch this guy, Van Jones, every chance he gets, calling me a ‘Dictator,’ and far worse. He should be ashamed of himself!!!"

The First Step Act was signed into law in December 2018. It represented one of the few major legislative accomplishments of Trump’s first term and was supported by a coalition that included Jones and other civil rights leaders.

Ongoing Feuds with Media Figures

Trump’s latest remarks are part of a broader pattern of public criticism directed at media personalities and former allies. In recent weeks, he has renewed his feud with ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, demanding his firing from Disney following a controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April.

Kimmel had joked that Melania Trump had "the glow of an expectant widow" days before the assassination attempt on Trump at the same event. Trump called the remark a "despicable call to violence" and reiterated his demand for Kimmel’s dismissal.

Trump’s Criticism Extends to MAGA Media Figures

In early April, Trump also targeted prominent conservative media figures, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, labeling them "stupid people" after they publicly criticized his handling of the Iran conflict. Some, like Jones and Owens, went further by calling for Trump’s removal from office.

These public disputes underscore Trump’s combative approach to media criticism, particularly from those once aligned with his political base.