Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s iconic chief international anchor, is leaving the network after 43 years.
The 68-year-old journalist appeared to take a pointed swipe at CNN in announcing her departure, as the network faces internal criticism ahead of an expected takeover by Trump-aligned billionaire David Ellison.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years,” Amanpour said.
She added that she was looking forward to “interesting new projects down the line” and would continue supporting CNN while defending its tradition of independent journalism. “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said.
Amanpour’s announcement comes a month after CNN contributor Kara Swisher said she was also leaving the network following approval of the $100 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal led by David and Larry Ellison.
Swisher’s contract remains in effect through the end of the year, but she has been outspoken about the incoming owners. “I have been very explicit … I think they are terrible media owners,” she said.
Amanpour’s final broadcast is scheduled for next June, bringing her remarkable CNN run to a close.
Born in London in 1958, Amanpour began her CNN career in 1983.
Amanpour reported from Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and covered the Gulf War in 1991, helping establish her reputation as a leading foreign correspondent.
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (L) with Iranian-born CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour (R) before their interview in Tehran in 1988.
The Ellisons are major financial supporters and close allies of President Donald Trump. They donated approximately $45 million to a pro-Trump political nonprofit during his 2024 election campaign.
CNN chairman Mark Thompson announced Amanpour’s departure in a memo to staff.
“Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some months,” Thompson wrote.
“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”
Amanpour did not refer to her health in the announcement. The journalist is currently believed to be undergoing cancer treatment.
She was first diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in 2021 and underwent surgery and chemotherapy.
The father-and-son team are major financial supporters and close allies of President Donald Trump.
Amanpour plans to continue her podcast, “X-Files,” with her ex-husband Jamie Rubin.
Amanpour and Rubin married at the medieval church of Santo Stefano in Bracciano, Italy, in 1998.
In October 2025, Amanpour revealed that her cancer had returned. She is believed to be receiving treatment at a London hospital.
Amanpour was born in London in 1958 and joined CNN in 1983 as a desk assistant at the then-fledgling network’s Atlanta headquarters.
She moved into a correspondent role at CNN’s New York office in 1986, beginning a rapid rise through the network’s ranks.
Her coverage of the Berlin Wall’s fall in November 1989 and the Gulf War in 1991 cemented her standing as an influential international correspondent.
In 1992, she was named CNN’s chief international correspondent, a position that placed her at the center of major breaking news events around the world.
Amanpour plans to continue her podcast, “X-Files,” with her ex-husband, Jamie Rubin. The former couple have one son, Darius John Rubin.
