Correspondent abruptly leaves CNN after calling Trump a ‘demagogue’
Announcement of Departure
John Harwood, a correspondent for CNN, announced his departure from the network on his Twitter account on Friday. This came a day after he spoke favorably about a nationally televised speech by President Joe Biden, in which Biden criticized Republican forces loyal to former President Donald Trump for imperiling American democracy.
“The core point [Biden] made in that political speech about a threat to democracy is true,” Harwood said on CNN after the address. “Now that is something that is not easy for us as journalists to say.”
Harwood continued by stating that journalists are brought up to believe that there are two different political parties with different points of view, and they do not take sides in honest disagreements between them. However, he emphasized that the current Republican party is led by a dishonest demagogue.
By midday on Friday, the 65-year-old Harwood tweeted that it was his last day at CNN. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve other prominent American media outlets such as the St Petersburg Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and NBC. Harwood also mentioned that he looks forward to figuring out what’s next in his career.
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Harwood’s departure was motivated by his remarks supporting Biden’s speech and criticizing Trump. Instead, network officials issued a statement expressing their appreciation for Harwood’s work covering the White House and wishing him all the best.
According to veteran media reporter Dylan Byers, Harwood still had two years left on his contract at CNN when he announced his exit.
Insight into the Situation
The Hollywood Reporter cited an anonymous source with insight into the situation, revealing that Harwood learned about his departure from the channel last month. The change in leadership at CNN occurred in April when executives appointed by Warner Brothers Discovery took over. CNN chief Chris Licht, who inherited his post after Jeff Zucker’s departure in February, has expressed a desire to tone down the network’s shows’ opinions and return to a more traditional, straighter, and less overtly liberal style of reporting.
Departure of Brian Stelter
Harwood’s departure follows the exit of Brian Stelter, the host of CNN’s media affairs show, Reliable Sources. Stelter’s show was canceled after being on the airwaves for 30 years. Stelter faced criticism from conservative viewers over his coverage of the Trump administration, particularly regarding his attempts to sow doubt about the validity of the 2020 election results, which Trump lost to Biden.
On his last show, Stelter also used the term “demagogue” as he verbally rebuked CNN’s new leadership. He stated that it is not partisan to stand up to demagogues and that doing so is required and patriotic. Similar to Harwood, Stelter reportedly had multiple years remaining on his CNN contract at the time of his departure.
Harwood’s Tenure at CNN
John Harwood joined CNN in January 2020, approximately a year before Trump supporters launched a deadly attack on the US Capitol. The attack was a desperate attempt to prevent the congressional certification of Trump’s electoral defeat to Biden.
Throughout his tenure at CNN, Harwood covered various aspects of the White House and played a role in providing analysis and commentary on political events. His departure from the network marks a significant change in the lineup of correspondents and commentators at CNN.
As Harwood moves on to explore new opportunities, the media landscape continues to evolve, with networks like CNN undergoing leadership changes and reevaluating their editorial strategies. The departure of Harwood and Stelter, two prominent figures at CNN, raises questions about the network’s future direction and the changing dynamics of political journalism in the United States.