Jones is an idiot, I have no use for him whatsoever, but I don't think Acosta deserves to be seated next to him, should be well behind.
OK. I'm missing the down side, here... You don't want them more than arm swing away. At worst, does the press briefing room have folding chairs? Now, THAT's Television!
Raises another question: Do the chairs have padding, and if so, why? There is a chair that is deliberately designed to be attractive, and excruciatingly painful to sit in for more than a few minutes. It's meant to discourage loitering. Hmmm.
#3. Put them next to each other. I would be like the final scene in Star Trek episode, “Let this be the last battlefield”. Locked in eternal struggle. Black & White versus White & Black.
Pass the popcorn, please!