CNN reporter and anchor Jim Acosta, who regularly drew the ire of President Trump, announced on-air Tuesday he is leaving the network.

Mr. Acosta, 53, thanked viewers for tuning in during his 18 years on the channel and gave a not-so-subtle swipe at Mr. Trump.

“It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant,” he said after showing a clip in which he confronted Cuban strongman Raul Castro. “Don’t give into the lies, don’t give into the fear.”

Mr. Trump, writing on Truth Social around the time of Mr. Acosta’s farewell, called the anchor a “major sleazebag” and cheered the network’s earlier plans to relegate him to a lousy time slot on CNN.

“Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!” Mr. Trump wrote.

Mr. Acosta rose to prominence as a White House correspondent during Mr. Trump’s first term. He frequently clashed with Mr. Trump during press conferences. At one, a White House aide wrestled away a microphone from him as he was questioning Mr. Trump, leading to a confrontation over his press pass.

Mr. Acosta decided to leave after the network tried to move him from a 10 a.m. time slot to a midnight one, which would leave him with few viewers.

“I’ve decided to move on,” Mr. Acosta said.

Online supporters of Mr. Trump wished him good riddance while critics of Mr. Trump accused the network of bowing to the current administration.

CNN, in a statement to The New York Times, denied that it was catering to Mr. Trump’s world and said its realignment would have placed Mr. Acosta in prime-time on the West Coast.

“I’ll have more to say about my plans in the coming days but until then, I want to thank all of you for tuning in,” Mr. Acosta said. “It’s been an honor to be welcomed into your home for all these years, that’s the news.”