John Harwood, a prominent White House correspondent for CNN, has announced his departure from the network via a tweet on his Twitter account, @JohnJHarwood. This exit comes just a day after he openly criticized former President Donald Trump on air, labeling him a “dishonest demagogue.” Harwood’s sudden exit adds to the ongoing changes at CNN, as the network’s new leadership aims to adopt a more politically neutral stance.
Harwood shared the news of his departure on Twitter on Friday, expressing pride in his work and gratitude to his CNN colleagues, as well as his previous employers including St. Petersburg Times, WSJ, NYT, and NBC. His tweet, embedded below, served as a direct and concise announcement of his exit from the cable news giant.
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
This announcement on John Harwood’s Twitter account quickly circulated, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his departure. Just the day before, Harwood had offered on-air commentary regarding President Joe Biden’s speech, where Biden asserted that Republican forces loyal to Donald Trump threatened American democracy. Harwood affirmed the President’s message, stating, “The core point [Biden] made in that political speech about a threat to democracy is true.”
He further elaborated, “The Republican party right now is led by a dishonest demagogue.” This candid criticism of Trump came amidst a visible shift at CNN towards what new network president Chris Licht envisions as a more politically neutral form of journalism. This move is seen by many as a departure from the more opinionated style that characterized CNN in recent years, particularly during the Trump era.
CNN’s response to Harwood’s departure was brief and formal. In a statement, the network acknowledged Harwood’s contributions, saying, “We appreciate John’s work covering the White House, and we wish him all the best.” This standard statement offered no specific reason for his exit, leaving room for speculation that his on-air remarks about Trump might have played a role. Neither CNN nor John Harwood explicitly stated the reason behind his departure, but the timing, following his strong comments, is noteworthy.
Media reporter Dylan Byers noted that Harwood still had two years remaining on his contract with CNN, adding another layer of intrigue to his sudden exit. Adding to the speculation, The Hollywood Reporter cited an anonymous source indicating that Harwood was informed “last month” about his impending departure, suggesting the decision might predate his recent Trump comments but was only publicly announced via John Harwood’s Twitter this week.
John Harwood’s exit is the second high-profile departure from CNN in recent weeks, following Brian Stelter’s exit on August 21. Stelter, the host of “Reliable Sources,” a show focused on media criticism, was also known for his sharp critiques of the Trump administration and its allies. Notably, in his final show, Stelter also used the term “demagogue” in what was interpreted as a veiled critique of CNN’s new direction. Stelter’s show, a CNN fixture for three decades, was canceled as part of the network’s broader shift.
Before joining CNN in 2020, John Harwood was a chief Washington correspondent for CNBC. Even prior to his CNN role, Harwood was known for his forthright assessments of the political landscape. In 2019, while at CNBC, he described Trump and his Republican supporters as “fundamentally broken,” highlighting the challenges faced by journalists attempting to cover them in good faith. This history of direct and sometimes critical commentary has been a hallmark of Harwood’s career.
The departure of John Harwood, announced via Twitter, underscores a significant moment of transition at CNN. As the network navigates towards a more politically neutral approach under new leadership, the exit of prominent figures like Harwood and Stelter signals a clear change in direction. Whether this shift will resonate with CNN’s audience and the broader media landscape remains to be seen, but the news, broken by John Harwood on Twitter, has certainly sparked considerable discussion about the evolving nature of cable news and political reporting.
