'Don’t give in': CNN host urges viewers to not 'bow down to a tyrant' in farewell message

At the end of his show on Tuesday, CNN host Jim Acosta announced he was leaving the network. He used his farewell message to throw a jab at President Donald Trump without mentioning his name, and to urge viewers to take action.

Acosta said in the final minutes of his broadcast that he had given "careful consideration" to his decision, but that he had "decided to move on." He added that he was "grateful" to the network after a career spanning nearly 18 years, but that he would be declining a new role in which he would be moved to Los Angeles to broadcast at midnight Eastern Time. He then pivoted to asking viewers to defend the truth in the future.

"It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant," Acosta said following a segment about former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. "I've always believed it's the job of the press to hold power to account. I've always done that at CNN and I plan on doing that in the future."

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"One final message: Don't give in to the lies. Don't give in to the fear. Hold on to truth. And to hope," he said. "Even if you have to get our your phone. Record that message: 'I will not give in to the lies. I will not give in to the fear.' Post it on your social media, so people can hear from you too."

Trump celebrated Acosta being sidelined on his Truth Social platform, calling it "really good news." He wrote that the longtime reporter and anchor (who was a frequent Trump critic) was "dishonest" and a "major sleazebag."

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

The Associated Press reported that Acosta — who was a former White House correspondent for the network — leaving CNN came in response to the network moving him to a late-night role rather than his weekly morning slot. Acosta's 10 AM morning slot will now be filled by hosts Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown. The move to put Acosta in a lower-rated slot was interpreted as a demotion, and came on the heels of the network's CEO, Mark Thompson, telling on-air talent to hold off on criticizing Trump ahead of his second inauguration.

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Watch Acosta's farewell message below, or by clicking this link.