CNN anchor quits after 18 years with final warning ‘Don’t give in to the lies’
Long-time CNN anchor Jim Acosta revealed his decision to ‘move on’ from the US news outlet with a warning over lies and fear-mongering.
After confirming he would be leaving, the presenter issued a warning over ‘tyrants’ and pleaded with the public not to ‘give in to the lies’.
Acosta, 53, had been with CNN for almost 18 years when reports about a possible change to the schedule began to surface.
He confirmed that he had been offered an ‘alternative time slot’ but ultimately ‘decided to move on’.
‘I am grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I‘ve spent here doing the news,’ Acosta began.
‘As the son of a Cuban refugee, I took home the lesson … it is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant.’
‘I have always believed it’s the job of the press to hold power to account. I’ve always tried to do that at CNN and plan to go on doing it in the future.’
Despite being one of the more popular hosts on the channel, Acosta was removed from his 10am show in a shakeup by new network chief Mark Thompson.
Instead, the presenter was reportedly offered a late show slot in an attempt to free up an hour on the schedule.
Acosta continued: ‘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 posted on your social media so people can hear from you too.’
During his time at CNN, Acosta served as the chief White House correspondent for both the Obama and Trump administrations.
He rose to prominence for his regular clashes with Donald Trump at briefings, which culminated in a temporary ban from the White House grounds.
Many have taken this speech as a response to the re-election of Trump, given the pair’s history of disagreements.
Trump posted a celebration of his exit hours before the final sign-off, in which he called the journalist ‘dishonest’ and ‘a major sleazebag’.
As a final message to viewers, Acosta said: ‘I’ll have more to say about my plans in the coming days, but until then, I want to thank all of you for tuning in.
‘It has been an honour to be welcomed into your home for all these years.’
In a statement, a CNN spokesperson told The Independent: ‘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.’
CNN anchor quits after 18 years with final warning ‘Don’t give in to the lies’