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Embattled CNN anchor Jim Acosta announced Tuesday that he is leaving the network — and took an apparent parting shot at the Trump administration by urging viewers not to “give in to the lies.”
Acosta, a former White House correspondent at CNN who often feuded with President Trump during his first term, was reportedly slated to be relegated to the graveyard shift from his current morning slot.
“You may have seen some reports about me and this show. And after giving all of this some careful consideration and weighing an alternative time slot CNN offered me, I have decided to move on,” Acosta said at the end of his 10 a.m. program.
Acosta will be replaced in the mornings by “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown” as part of a reshuffle of the ratings-challenged lineup by CNN boss Mark Thompson.
Thompson reportedly offered Acosta, who has been at CNN for 18 years, a less-prominent midnight slot, but the anchor chose to pull the rip cord.
Acosta said he would announce more about his future plans in the coming days.
“I have always believed it’s the job of the press to hold power to account. I have always tried to do that here at CNN,” Acosta said in his farewell message.
“I plan on doing all of that in the future. One final message: Don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth. And to hope, even if you have to get out your phone, record that message. I will not give in to the lies. I will not give in to the fear. Post it on your social media, so people can hear from you, too.”
“Until then, I want to thank all of you for tuning in. It has been an honor to be welcomed into your home for all of these years,” he added.
CNN released a statement which read: “Jim has had a long, distinguished nearly 20-year career at CNN, with a track record of standing up to authority, for the first amendment and for our journalistic freedoms.”
“We want to thank him for the dedication and commitment he’s brought to his reporting and wish him the very best in the future.”
After the 2020 election, Acosta transitioned from his role as chief White House correspondent to CNN’s chief domestic correspondent, stepping away from direct political coverage.
However, his departure comes at a time when CNN’s leadership is seeking a more neutral political stance, particularly as Trump prepares for a second term.
Acosta’s career at CNN has been defined by his confrontational reporting style and willingness to challenge authority.
While many viewers appreciated his approach, CNN’s strategic shift may have influenced his decision to leave. Though details on his next steps remain unclear, his departure marks a significant change for the network as it continues to reshape its coverage of US politics.
CNN last week announced a major restructuring that includes 200 job cuts — about 6% of its workforce — and a strategic shift toward digital media, according to Thompson. The layoffs primarily affect producers, editors and non-air staff essential to TV operations.
Thompson, a former New York Times executive known for steering the paper toward digital success, outlined his vision in an internal memo. “Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting,” he stated.
CNN’s transformation includes streamlining its cable TV operations while expanding its digital subscription services.
Plans include developing a streaming service for news content and launching a lifestyle-oriented digital product. To support this digital transition, parent company Warner Bros Discovery has invested $70 million. Despite the job cuts, CNN plans to create at least 100 new positions in digital media.
CNN is not alone in downsizing; NBC News, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press have also announced job cuts as part of cost-saving measures.
The restructuring follows CNN’s struggle to retain viewers, particularly since Trump’s election win. The network’s web traffic hit a two-year low in December, dropping to 90.5 million unique visits from a peak of 175.5 million in 2020.
WBD’s broader restructuring will split its cable TV networks, including CNN, from its streaming and studio operations, consolidating them into a new unit called Global Linear Networks.
