Jim Acosta: “Don’t give in to lies, don’t give in to fear”

Jim Acosta, a news presenter at CNN since 2007, announced his immediate departure at the end of his live broadcast. In a sincere and moving message, he urged viewers not to give in to lies or fear, encouraging them to hold on to truth and hope.

This message comes after he was demoted from his morning show to a night slot, from midnight to 2 a.m., a decision widely seen as a clear signal aimed at pushing Jim Acosta out. Known for having challenged Trump during his first administration and openly criticized his actions, Acosta represented views that CNN now seems to want to exclude from its network.

In a message filled with grace despite the tense circumstances with his employer, Acosta wanted to thank everyone who works behind the scenes at CNN as well as the network itself for the nearly 18 years spent at the organization. However, after careful consideration of the new time slot that had been proposed to him, he decided to turn the page.

In his resignation message, it is clear that Acosta chose not to comply with a supposed directive from CNN aimed at avoiding criticism of Trump and his administration: «It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant.»

«A final message: Don’t give in to lies, don’t give in to fear. Even if you have to, take your phone and record this message (…) so that people can hear it from you too.»

It should be noted that a recent restructuring was announced at CNN to bring significant changes for several other emblematic figures of CNN, including Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper, but for Jim Acosta, it was seen as a major setback, as the company sidelined him from strategic time slots.

Among these major changes to the programming, the show The Lead with Jake Tapper, previously aired on weekdays from 4 PM to 6 PM (ET), will be moved from 5 PM to 7 PM (ET) starting March 2025, as part of this significant reorganization of the network.

Some perceive this decision by CNN as related to Donald Trump’s return to the White House, with Jim Acosta being one of the most critical hosts towards the former and current president.

Acosta also stated in his message that he had always considered it essential for the press to hold power accountable. He claimed to have always tried to fulfill this role at CNN and expressed his intention to continue doing so in the future. He made history in 2018, notably during a direct confrontation with President Trump, who wanted to silence him.

Acosta stated that he will share his future plans in the coming days, while expressing his gratitude for the honor of having been welcomed into the homes of viewers for all these years at CNN. His departure undoubtedly represents a major loss for CNN.