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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to call CNN anchor Jim Acosta's move from the station "really good news."
Newsweek reached out to CNN for comment.
Why It Matters
Acosta has been known for being a staunch critic of Trump. The two consistently sparred, with the Trump administration sued after revoking Acosta's press pass, which was eventually restored after the network argued Trump's administration was violating the First and Fifth Amendments. In an exchange in 2018, Acosta was branded an "enemy of the people" after refusing to let go of the microphone during a news conference in Washington. Acosta asked Trump if he thought he "demonized immigrants," which Trump denied.
Read More on Politics
The Status newsletter announced last week that Acosta's 10 a.m. program was going to be replaced with The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown. CNN reportedly tried to move Acosta to prime-time hours on the West Coast, which would have likely seen ratings drop dramatically.
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What To Know
Acosta confirmed he was leaving CNN at the end of his show on Tuesday, noting that he is "grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I have spent here doing the news."
The president has repeatedly labeled the network as "fake news."
"Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, "Death Valley," because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!)," Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday. "Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!"
Acosta joined CNN in 2007, initially covering political campaigns and rising through the ranks. After Joe Biden won the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Acosta transitioned to the role of chief domestic correspondent at CNN.
In a statement to The Hill, CNN said, "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."
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The news organization has revealed plans to lay off dozens of its employees.
What Has Jim Acosta Said About Leaving CNN?
At the end of his hour of CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta, the news anchor thanked the people he has worked with and confirmed he is departing the network.
"I just wanted to end today's show by thanking all of the wonderful people who work behind the scenes at this network. You may have seen some reports about me and the show. After giving all this careful consideration, weighing an alternative timeslot CNN offered me, I have decided to move on. I am grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I have spent here doing the news," Acosta said.
He went on to talk about his favorite moments with the network.
"People often ask me if the highlight of my career at CNN was at the White House covering Donald Trump. Actually, no. That moment came here when I covered former President Barack Obama's trip to Cuba in 2016 and had the chance to question the dictator there, Raul Castro about the island's political prisoners," Acosta said. "As the son of a Cuban refugee, I took home this lesson: It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant. I've always believed it is the job of the press to hold power to account. I've always tried to do that at CNN and I plan on doing all of that in the future."
Acosta ended his remarks on Tuesday
"One final message, don't give into the lies," Acosta said. "Don't give into the fear. Hold onto the truth and the hope. Even if you have to get out your phone and record that message. I will not give in to the lies. I will not give into the fear. Post it on your social media so people can hear from you too."
What People Are Saying
Actor James Woods on X: "It's like when your dog shakes that last nugget of poop off his butt..."
John Pitney, a veteran political scientist and former Republican National Committee official, previously told Newsweek: "Acosta is an aggressive interviewer, and executives might be thinking that his approach is unappealing to right-leaning viewers. And there is Trump himself. He has not been shy about threatening the economic interests of news organizations that displease him."
Former Republican Representative Joe Walsh, on X: "I appear on @CNN quite often. And if saying what I'm about to say means my days at CNN are over, well then fuck it. CNN, what you just did - removing @Acosta from his morning show - is cowardly bullshit. Acosta is one of your most independent, unafraid hosts. To demote him to fucking appease the crybaby in the White House is pathetic. And an abdication of your duty to hold ALL public officials to account. Shame on you CNN. Correct this mistake now."
Gun activist Fred Guttenberg, on X: "I will never watch @CNN again. I will never do an interview there again. This effort to submit to Trump by removing @Acosta is unacceptable. If I want to watch FOX, that is what I will watch. If I want to watch real news and not Trump propaganda, I have other options."
Charlie Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, on X: "Notorious liberal scold and anti-Trump legacy news personality Jim Acosta is out at CNN. The media landscape is unrecognizable from the beginning of Trump's first term in 2017, and that's a very good thing for America."
Shawn Farash, a media personality, on X: "Jim Acosta is OUT at CNN. I'd like to thank Jim Acosta for this timeless moment... When Donald Trump shut him down and told him 'You Are Fake News!'"
What's Next
Acosta said he will "have more to say about my plans in the coming days."
"It has been an honor to be welcomed into your home for all of these years," Acosta said. "That's the news."
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