CNN Chief National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt has left the network after eight years, with his departure coming five months after his reporting led to a costly defamation trial that resulted in millions of dollars in damages for the network.
Marquardt announced his exit on Monday, June 2, 2025, through a post on X, stating he was leaving CNN after what he described as eight terrific years. The correspondent expressed gratitude to his colleagues on the National Security team and teammates he worked with domestically and internationally.
According to former CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy, Marquardt was dismissed due to editorial differences with network leadership. CNN declined to comment on the departure, citing a policy against discussing personnel matters. The network confirmed only that Marquardt’s social media announcement was accurate.
The departure follows a significant legal setback for CNN involving Marquardt’s November 2021 report about private contractors assisting Afghan evacuations during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal. The report focused on U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, who sued the network for defamation after claiming the coverage destroyed his reputation and security consulting business.
In January 2025, a Bay County, Florida jury found that CNN had defamed Young through Marquardt’s reporting. The segment, which aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” suggested Young operated on a black market and exploited desperate Afghans seeking evacuation by charging exorbitant fees.
The jury awarded Young five million dollars in compensatory damages after deliberating for less than nine hours following a two-week trial in Panama City state court. CNN and Young reached an undisclosed settlement before jurors could determine punitive damages, which the jury foreman later indicated could have reached 50 million to 100 million dollars.
During the trial, damaging internal communications were revealed, including a message from Marquardt to a CNN colleague stating they would “nail this Zachary Young” using profanity. A CNN producer also made disparaging comments about Young’s appearance, describing him as having a punchable face.
Young testified that his business charged corporate sponsors to evacuate Afghans rather than targeting individual residents, contradicting the network’s portrayal of his operations. The veteran maintained that CNN’s coverage branded him as an illegal profiteer, severely damaging his ability to continue his work in the security consulting field.
CNN insiders indicated the departure was obviously connected to the defamation case, though they expressed confusion about the timing, given that five months had elapsed since the trial concluded. One network staffer noted that Marquardt had not committed any other wrongdoing, making the legal case the logical reason for his termination.
Following the trial, CNN initially stood by Marquardt, with a spokesperson describing him as an experienced veteran reporter with valuable insights. The correspondent continued making regular on-air appearances through late May 2025, even serving as a fill-in anchor on Memorial Day.
According to the Status newsletter, Marquardt’s dismissal resulted from a post-settlement ethics compliance review that CNN launched earlier this year. The review involved interviews with Marquardt and others connected to the defamatory report. Network leadership informed Marquardt of their decision on Friday, May 30, citing unspecified editorial differences.
After the January verdict, CNN maintained its commitment to strong journalism while acknowledging it would take useful lessons from the case. The network emphasized its pride in its journalists and dedication to fearless, fair-minded reporting despite the legal setback.
Young expressed no forgiveness toward Marquardt following the trial, criticizing the correspondent’s defiant stance during testimony. The Navy veteran noted that Marquardt had multiple opportunities during depositions and trial proceedings to apologize but declined, maintaining pride in his reporting work.
Marquardt’s career at CNN included extensive coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, the January 6 Capitol insurrection, and Black Lives Matter protests. Before joining CNN in 2017, he worked as ABC News’ foreign correspondent for approximately eight years, based in Moscow, Jerusalem, Beirut, and London.
The veteran journalist has received multiple awards throughout his career, including Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for an undercover investigation of underage sex trafficking in the Philippines. Marquardt has not announced his next career move following his departure from the network.