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During the final moments of his January 29 show, Acosta made his exit official.
“You may have seen some reports about me and the show, and after giving all of this some careful consideration and weighing in alternative timeslots CNN offered me, I’ve decided to move on. I am grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I’ve spent here doing the news,” Acosta said.
Resistance Journalism Loses Its Leading Man
Acosta built his career at CNN on his aggressive and often combative coverage of Donald Trump. His confrontational style, frequently criticized for being more about performance than journalism, made him a hero among the left but alienated many viewers who grew tired of the network’s constant anti-Trump rhetoric.
CNN’s audience has dwindled dramatically in the post-Trump era, with viewers seemingly rejecting the network’s heavy-handed partisan approach. As part of a broader attempt to revamp CNN’s image, Thompson’s leadership has sought to reposition the network, and Acosta’s departure marks a significant shift in that strategy.
Though he spent years attacking Trump and conservative policies, Acosta framed his departure as a continuation of his journalistic mission.
“I have always believed it’s the job of the press to hold power to account. I’ve always tried to do that here at CNN, and I plan on doing all of that in the future,” Acosta claimed.
Before signing off, he left his audience with one final call to action.
“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.”
Trump Reacts: ‘Good Luck, Jim!’
Never one to miss an opportunity to mock his critics, Donald Trump responded to Acosta’s exit with a characteristically blunt and scathing statement on Truth Social.
KICK OUT The Cold and Say Hello to The Handyheater! Warming Any Spot INSTANTLY!
“Wow, really good 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!). 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!” Trump posted.
Acosta’s departure signals the end of an era for CNN, but the larger question remains: Is the network truly changing course, or is this simply a rebranding of the same partisan tactics under new leadership? With CNN struggling to regain trust and relevance, all eyes will be on whether Thompson’s leadership can steer the network back toward journalism—or if it will continue down the same anti-Trump path with different faces leading the charge.
