Chris Wallace, the veteran news anchor who left Fox News after decades to join CNN's short-lived streaming service, will be leaving the network this fall.
News of Wallace's departure The Daily Beast first reported.
In a statement to The Hill late Monday, CNN CEO Mark Thompson called Mr. Wallace a “reporting executive with a unique track record in radio, print, broadcast television, cable and streaming. “One of the most respected political journalists in the industry.”
Wallace, 77, told the Beast that he plans to work at a streaming service or podcasting rather than quit the news industry.
“This is the first time in 55 years that I've taken time off from work between jobs,” he said. “I was actually turned on and liberated by it.”
Wallace joined CNN in late 2021 after leaving Fox News, where he worked as an anchor and debate moderator for 20 years and hosted “Fox News Sunday.”
His hiring was part of the cable network's larger push into its direct-to-consumer streaming service CNN+ at the time.
CNN+ failed to gain traction and was shut down after less than a month, but Wallace was later tapped to host a weekend talk show that interviewed celebrities, pundits, and other members of the media.
The anchor's departure, which comes just days after President-elect Trump's reelection, is a major blow to CNN's roster of hosts and political analysts. It also comes as the network is experiencing ratings struggles and faces serious questions about declining terrestrial television viewership.
Wallace was featured prominently last week as part of CNN's election night coverage.
“We would like to thank him for the dedication and wisdom he brings to all his work at CNN and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Thompson said.
