Reports indicate that CNN anchor Jim Acosta is set to depart from the network after being removed from its programming schedule.
According to the Status newsletter, Acosta’s 10 a.m. ET program was replaced by “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown,” prompting expectations of his exit from CNN.
The newsletter previously mentioned that CNN CEO Mark Thompson proposed moving Acosta from his one-hour slot at 10 a.m. ET to a less prominent two-hour slot starting at midnight.
A source from CNN informed Fox News Digital that Acosta had difficulty deciding and might end his contract prematurely as a result. The source commended Acosta for his bravery in making this decision.
CNN declined to comment.
Jim Acosta emerged as a CNN favorite when he was a White house reporter during the Trump administration. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria) (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Acosta gained prominence as CNN’s chief White House correspondent for his contentious interactions with President Donald Trump and his team in the previous Trump administration. Post-2020 election, Acosta transitioned to become the chief domestic correspondent at CNN, eventually progressing to hosting a show on weekdays.
While CNN’s prior leadership embraced Acosta’s confrontations with the first Trump administration, the current leadership appears to be aiming for a more balanced approach in the second term.
Jim Acosta Jimmy Kimmel (Randy Holmes via Getty Images))
Acosta started at CNN in 2007 covering political campaigns, later reporting from the Obama and Trump White Houses. He gained notoriety for challenging Trump’s press secretaries and engaging in heated debates with the president, earning a reputation for being confrontational and receiving attention from Trump labeling him “fake news.”
In a well-known incident in 2018, Acosta refused to surrender the microphone during a press conference, leading to a contentious exchange with Trump. The White House attempted to revoke Acosta’s press pass following the incident but CNN successfully argued for its reinstatement on the basis of First and Fifth Amendment rights violations.
CNN’s Jim Acosta questions U.S. President Donald Trump during his news conference following Tuesday’s midterm U.S. congressional elections at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 7, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst – RC189F0AFAA0 (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst )
Acosta’s contentious relationship with the first Trump administration proved to be beneficial as he secured a book deal and appeared frequently on left-leaning late-night shows, further increasing his prominence, leading to his hosting role during the Biden administration. Recently, he emphasized to viewers that the press is “not the enemy of the people,” directly challenging Trump.
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Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
