Updated Jan 28, 2025 - Business

Anchor and former White House correspondent Jim Acosta leaves CNN after 18 years

April Rubin

Jim Acosta walks through a crowd — CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta returns to the White House after Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered the White House to reinstate his press pass in November 2018 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Jim Acosta, CNN anchor and former White House correspondent, announced he's leaving the network on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Acosta's departure comes after a nearly 20-year run at CNN, where he notably grilled President Trump during his first administration and was subsequently critical of how he interacted with the media.

What he's saying: "I have decided to move on," he said at the end of his Tuesday show. "I am grateful to CNN for the nearly 18 years I've spent here doing the news."

He said the highlight of his career was questioning former Cuban president Raúl Castro about political prisoners when former President Obama traveled to the island in 2016.
"It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant," said Acosta, the son of a Cuban refugee. "I have always believed it's the job of the press to hold power to account. I always try to do that here at CNN and I plan on doing all of that in the future."

Trump calls Acosta departure "good news"

The latest: President Trump celebrated Acosta's departure as "good news" in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, lambasting his ethics.

Context: Acosta and President Trump had a contentious relationship when he served as a White House correspondent for CNN during the first administration.

In 2018, the White House revoked Acosta's press credential following a heated exchange at a press conference. His credentials were restored after CNN and Acosta later sued the White House.
In a 2019 book, "The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America," Acosta detailed his experiences covering the Trump administration.

Zoom in: A statement from a CNN spokesperson recognized Acosta's "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," the spokesperson said.

Where is Jim Acosta going

Between the lines: CNN offered Acosta a midnight to 2am ET anchoring slot, Status News reported earlier this month.

What's next: Acosta said he'd announce more about his future steps in the coming days.

"One final message: Don't give into the lies," Acosta said. "Don't give into the fear. Hold onto the truth and to hope."

Go deeper: CNN to cut 200 jobs amid restructuring, new digital investments

Editor's note: This story has been updated with details of CNN's offer.

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Anchor and former White House correspondent Jim Acosta leaves CNN after 18 years

Trump calls Acosta departure "good news"

Where is Jim Acosta going

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