Christiane Amanpour to Leave CNN After 43-Year Tenure

Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, said she will wind down her daily CNN International show early next year, conclude the weekly successor in May and leave the network in June 2027. Her PBS program, “Amanpour & Company,” will end at the close of this year, though she will keep producing the podcast “The Ex Files” with former husband Jamie Rubin.

Amanpour did not provide a specific reason for the departure, which comes as CNN prepares for a new era under Paramount Skydance ownership. In a farewell message she wrote, "Always be truthful, not neutral," reflecting a philosophy that has guided her reporting.

Her career, spanning coverage of the Gulf War, Bosnia, Rwanda and Ukraine, has earned multiple honors, including the National Press Foundation’s Sol Taishoff Award in 2025 and recognition from the Committee to Protect Journalists in 2016. Judges praised her rigorous questioning of world leaders and her commitment to press freedom.

Amanpour’s reporting on Israel and the Palestinians has drawn criticism from some Jewish and pro-Israel observers, who argue that her coverage under-represents Israeli security concerns and over-emphasizes religious nationalism. Specific disputes include the 2007 documentary “God’s Jewish Warriors,” which CAMERA described as biased, and a 2023 mischaracterization of a West Bank attack that she later corrected on air.

In 2024, Amanpour faced backlash for a social-media post comparing Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti to Nelson Mandela, and in October 2025 she apologized after suggesting that released Israeli hostages were being treated better than average Gazans. She has also spoken about internal concerns at CNN regarding editorial processes for the Israel-Hamas war, noting that colleagues felt the network was slow to present Palestinian perspectives.

CNN responded to criticism by affirming its commitment to reporting all sides of the conflict and rejecting claims of bias. Amanpour, in a recent interview, said the network’s coverage shifted as the war progressed, moving from “horrendous stories from the victims in Israel” to “the destruction of Gaza” and the resulting civilian toll.

The announcement coincides with uncertainty about CNN’s future after Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, raising questions about editorial independence. Amanpour expressed concern about an “ideological realignment” at CBS News, a sister operation, and emphasized the importance of maintaining editorial independence.

She reflected on her multicultural upbringing, stating, "Because of my upbringing — I’m half-Iranian and half-British — I’ve had the great privilege of being able to see the world from two very distinct perspectives. I’ve always spoken out about the need to bridge gaps. I know we can live in a world that’s not 100% tribalized."