CNN anchor Jim Acosta announced Tuesday that he is departing the network after nearly 18 years.
Acosta said at the conclusion of this program that he has “decided to move on” after the network wanted to move his show to the midnight time slot. CNN chief Mark Thompson wanted the longtime host to move from his 10 a.m. time slot to the graveyard shift days before President Donald Trump was set to take office, former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy said.
“Just wanted to end today’s show by thanking all the wonderful people who work behind-the-scenes at this network. You may have seen some reports about me and this show, and after giving all of this some careful consideration and weighing in alternative time slots some people gave me, I’ve decided to move on,” Acosta said. “I am grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I’ve spent here doing the news.”
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Acosta said the highlight of his time at CNN was not covering Trump during his first term, but was questioning Cuban dictator Raul Castro about the island’s political prisoners during former President Barack Obama’s administration. He told his viewers to “hold onto the truth” and not to “give into the lies.”
The CNN host said that he will announce his upcoming plans in the near future.
Acosta previously served as White House correspondent during Trump’s first term and got into several heated spats with the president and his staff. The White House notably suspended his access to the grounds in November 2018 after he refused to give up a microphone to an intern while questioning Trump.
While addressing Acosta’s suspension, Trump referred to Acosta as a “very unprofessional man” and stated that reporters need to treat the presidency with respect. In response to a lawsuit CNN filed on Acosta’s behalf, Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued an injunction order that the White House reinstate his press pass, saying that his Fifth Amendment right to due process was violated.
Trump called Acosta’s departure from the network “really good news,” in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
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