Jim Acosta Departs CNN After Years on Air

Jim Acosta, CNN’s anchor and reporter, is leaving the network. This is a major departure for a journalist who was the top journalist on the cable channel in the first term of President Trump’s presidency.

Acosta announced the decision to leave CNN at the end of his morning newscast on Tuesday. He thanked the people “behind the scenes” and teased that he would have “more to share about his plans” in the coming days.

CNN’s management reportedly offered him a new slot just days before he left. This was in response to a major shakeup announced last week of the network’s programming.

Acosta’s newscast will be replaced by an anchor program hosted by Wolf Blitzer, a long-time network host.

Acosta confirmed on Tuesday that he had decided to move forward after carefully considering the other time slot CNN offered him.

The journalist, who has been with Warner Bros. Discovery for almost 20 years, made his name as CNN’s White House correspondent when Trump was in his first White House term.

He sparred often with the President and his aides at press conferences and in gaggles. One incident led to the temporary revocation of his press card.

He said that people often asked him if his best moment at CNN was covering Donald Trump at the White House. “That moment was when I covered former President Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba in 2016, and had the opportunity to ask the dictator about the island’s political prisoners.”

Acosta’s exit also coincides with a period of notable changes in the tone of the coverage of Trump and supporters by CNN and the mainstream media.

The CNN anchor who is leaving did not mention any recent changes to the editorial direction of CNN on Tuesday, but he gave a parting note to his audience.

He said, “Don’t believe the lies. Don’t be afraid. Hold on to truth and hope.”

In a press release, CNN stated, “Jim had a distinguished career of nearly 20 years at CNN. He has a record of standing against authority, for the First Amendment, and our journalistic liberties.”

They added: “We wish him all the best for his future and thank him for his dedication and commitment to reporting.”

This news comes just a few days after the cable giant announced plans to lay off dozens of workers and undergo major reorganization.