During Donald Trump’s first presidency, Jim Acosta served as CNN’s White House correspondent. He often tussled with Donald Trump’s different press secretaries and other advisers, and occasionally Trump himself, during White House briefings. Politico reported in 2017 that Acosta was “the White House’s favorite reporter because they had relished the confrontations.”
In 2018, the Trump White House at one point suspended Acosta’s press pass after a tense confrontation in which an aide attempted to take away Acosta’s microphone.
CNN’s loss will hopefully be MSNBC’s gain. Jim Acosta is a real talent and one of the few journalists in Washington who hasn’t pre-surrendered to Donald Trump. We need more of him, not less. pic.twitter.com/e0PzGx587S
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) January 28, 2025
In recent years, Acosta has been an anchor for CNN, and although he is heading into the Trump presidency, the network has announced plans to move his show to a late-night slot. Instead of accepting it, Acosta has announced that he’s leaving CNN after an 18-year run.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
“Don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to the fear; hold on to the truth and the hope,” Acosta said as he announced, thanking the behind-the-scenes staff at the network. He added that the highlight of his CNN career came in 2016 when he covered President Obama’s visit to Cuba, asked a question of then-President Raul Castro, and concluded that “it is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant.”
Like many people who leave cable news, Acosta has launched a Substack publication:
Hey guys! I’ve started something new. Go check it out! pic.twitter.com/28PIox1wtT
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 28, 2025
Meanwhile, Donald Trump couldn’t resist the urge to take one more shot at his old foe. At a time when there was speculation that Acosta would quit, and before he did, Trump denounced the departing anchor on Truth Social as “one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history” and “a major sleezebag.”
Acosta responded, accusing Trump of having “ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome.”
Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome. pic.twitter.com/nLWfFodirB
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 28, 2025
Acosta joins the expanding fraternity of former cable news hosts who are going “independent.” Tucker Carlson, late of Fox News, is now primarily seen on X and YouTube. Megyn Kelly is now on YouTube and Sirius XM. Fellow CNN exile Don Lemon also now streams on YouTube, while MSNBC’s former host Keith Olbermann hosts an IHeartMedia podcast. Mehdi Hasan, formerly of MSNBC, launched his Substack-based media company, Zeteo.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
