The martial arts move Acosta made against the young lady was intentional.
Yes, that was a classic Karate Kid, Danielson paint the fence downstroke move.
After his chopping block/push, one might almost be expecting to see him follow through with some additional kind of strike (with his hand, arm, knee, or foot) on the poor young woman, who was just trying to do her mic-passing White House intern job:
He should be called for a "personal foul", and severely penalized (banned for life).