A CNN White House correspondent abruptly left the network after publicly labeling President Trump “a dishonest demagogue.”
On Friday, John Harwood, who has been a critic of President Trump, announced on his Twitter account that he would be leaving CNN.
“Personal news: Today’s my last day at CNN. Proud of the work,” Harwood wrote.
“Thanks to my colleagues. I’ve been lucky to serve the best in American media – St. Petersburg Times, WSJ, NYT, the NBC family, CNN. Look forward to figuring out what’s next,” he added.
personal news:
today’s my last day at CNN
proud of the work
thanks to my colleagues
i’ve been lucky to serve the best in American media – St. Petersburg Times, WSJ, NYT, the NBC family, CNN
look forward to figuring out what’s next
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) September 2, 2022
Harwood’s announcement came less than two hours after he said on his show that Biden’s speech attacking Trump and his supporters was “true.”
“The core point [Biden] made in that political speech about a threat to democracy is true,” Harwood said on CNN. “Now that is something that is not easy for us as journalists to say.”
“We’re brought up to believe there’s two different political parties with different points of view, and we don’t take sides in honest disagreements between them. But that’s not what we are talking about. These are honest disagreements. The Republican party right now is led by a dishonest demagogue,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Now updated with truth-telling from @JohnJHarwood, which was followed moments later by his departure from CNN. https://t.co/5UfghMdlXg pic.twitter.com/4F1XHisPS9
— Dan Froomkin/PressWatchers.org (@froomkin) September 2, 2022
More from the Guardian:
CNN didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Harwood’s departure was motivated by his remarks supporting Biden’s speech and criticizing Trump. Network officials instead issued a statement saying, “We appreciate John’s work covering the White House, and we wish him all the best.”
Harwood had two years still left on his contract at CNN when he announced his exit, veteran media reporter Dylan Byers said later Friday.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, which cited an anonymous source with insight into the situation, Harwood learned “last month” that he was out at the channel.
Donald Trump reacted to the news that CNN correspondent John Harwood was leaving the network.
“He was a third-rate talent who never caught on because people didn’t trust or believe in him,” Trump told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“The media needs people who are reliable and truthful in order to save its reputation. There is almost nothing more important than that to happen for our Country. Harwood was polarizing and sadly, very untalented,” Trump added.
Harwood is the latest reporter to leave the network less than a month after CNN canceled the Sunday media affairs program Reliable Sources and host Brian Stelter.
Chief media correspondent for the Insider, Claire Atkinson, has warned that “there’s going to be the possibility of people leaving CNN, and the possibility that ratings go down” as a result of the network’s efforts to become more neutral.
