CNN’s Chris Wallace Faces Career-Ending News After Trump’s Big Win

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Following a sharp decline in his viewership since leaving Fox News, Chris Wallace declared his intention to change careers and leave CNN. According to The Daily Beast, Wallace, who is 77, intends to transition to an independent platform, most likely streaming or podcasting, which he said is where the action appears to be.

Wallace pointed to influential podcasters like Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God as setting the agenda during the election, though he added that he doesn’t flatter himself to think that he will have that sort of reach.

His decision to step away from CNN after a three-year, seven-figure contract instead of renegotiating is seen as a significant shift for cable TV, which faces declining ratings and industry pressures from cord-cutting. The outlet noted that other major anchors are also facing potential layoffs or salary reductions due to these financial challenges.

Wallace made the noteworthy remark during CNN’s election night coverage that Kamala Harris would require a miracle to win because early exit polls indicated that she was having difficulty. After 18 years at Fox News, where he gained notoriety for interviewing people like Donald Trump, Wallace joined CNN in 2021. But during the 2020 presidential debate, he came under fire for what was seen as his prejudice in fact-checking Trump more thoroughly than Joe Biden.

Wallace reflected on his career change, telling The Daily Beast that he had never been in between jobs for 55 years and that he felt both excited and freed by the uncertainty. He mentioned that part of the difficulty is not knowing, and he is now thinking about different streaming or podcasting options.

Despite CNN’s interest in keeping Wallace, his decision to leave comes as the network grapples with waning influence, with its ratings consistently trailing behind Fox News and MSNBC. CNN’s election coverage saw much lower viewership compared to its rivals, prompting increased pressure to reduce expenses.

Wallace emphasized that his departure wasn’t due to dissatisfaction with CNN. He shared that he has nothing but positive things to say. Nothing that CNN has been very good to him.

Wallace’s exit highlights a pivotal moment in traditional broadcasting, with industry executives warning of significant changes. Notably, in September, Hoda Kotb’s departure from NBC’s Today Show shocked the industry, as she reportedly declined a contract below $20 million. This shift toward budget cuts and staff reductions, often referred to as an impending “bloodbath” by some NBC insiders, reflects the broader crisis in conventional TV.

As media evolves, new stars are emerging from streaming, podcasts, and social media. So far, the most successful independent broadcasters transitioning from traditional TV have mostly leaned conservative. Wallace’s former CNN colleague Don Lemon, for example, launched The Don Lemon Show on Elon Musk’s platform X, but the project struggled after Musk objected to Lemon’s questioning style, ending their partnership. Meanwhile, former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan has found success on Substack, positioning Wallace’s move as an interesting contrast to the increasingly partisan media landscape.

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