Jim Acosta, Trump spar after longtime anchor leaves CNN: 'Jim is a ...

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Trump bickers with CNN's Jim Acosta over Russia during news conference

President Donald Trump clashed with Jim Acosta and said CNN has the "worst record in the history of broadcasting."

USA TODAY

Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta and President Donald Trump won't be cutting the cord on their long-running quarrels.

After the ex-CNN chief domestic correspondent announced his exit on air Tuesday, Trump responded on conservative social media platform Truth Social slamming his frequent critic.

"Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, 'Death Valley,' because of extraordinarily LOW RATINGS (and no talent!)," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump continued: "Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!"

Why is Jim Acosta leaving CNN? Anchor, Trump critic warns not to 'bow down' to tyranny

Acosta, who joined CNN in 2007 and left the network after nearly two decades, responded on X by quipping that Trump has "ADS."

"Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome," wrote the former anchor, 57, in reference to the president's own coined term "Trump derangement syndrome" which he assigns to political foes.

During Trump's first term in office, Acosta engaged in frequent back-and-forth encounters with the former president and press staff from his first administration. In November 2018, the first Trump White House revoked Acosta's press badge following a tense exchange with President Donald Trump where the president called him a "rude, terrible person." 

CNN later sued the Trump administration, and a federal judge then ordered the White House to reinstate Acosta's press credentials. During his first term in office. Trump frequently referred to CNN – and Acosta more directly – as "fake news," a popular phrase also used by his supporters.

Jim Acosta exits CNN with on-air sign off: 'It's never a good time to bow down to a tyrant'

While signing off Tuesday, Acosta made thinly veiled apparent references to the president.

A frequent and fervent critic of Trump, Acosta noted that his coverage of the newly re-elected president's first term has not been the "highlight" of his career, instead considering his coverage of former President Barack Obama's trip to Cuba in 2016 a defining moment.

"(I) had the chance to question the dictator there, Raul Castro, about the island's political prisoners," Acosta said on air. "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."

"One final message: don't give into the lies, don't give into the fear, hold onto the truth – and to hope," Acosta added during his on-air note to viewers.

Jim Acosta's CNN exit came after network offered lesser time slot

Acosta's exit from CNN came after the network cut his show from its morning, dayside and primetime lineup, with reports suggesting he was offered a lesser midnight time slot in a jarring shift just as Trump began a second term. The move comes as CNN has attempted to moderate their coverage, once considered left-leaning, in recent years.

Last week, CNN shifted much of its programming lineup, bumping hosts such as Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer to different timeslots as the company cuts about 200 TV positions, or 6% of its workforce, according to the network's own reporting.

In a statement on Friday, a CNN spokesperson said the network was in "active discussions with Jim about a new time slot and will have more information to share soon." The network later confirmed Acosta's exit Tuesday to USA TODAY.

Norah O'Donnell, Hoda Kotb sign off: 'God-like days' are over for big name anchors

"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," the network said in a statement. "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."

Although Acosta said he'd have more to say about his plans "in the coming days," he announced Tuesday afternoon on X that he was launching his own Substack column on the independent publishing platform, a move similar to that of ex-colleague Brooke Baldwin.