CNN Anchor Rahel Solomon Announces Departure After Surprise On-Air Exit

A familiar face at CNN is stepping away, adding to a period of transition and uncertainty for the embattled network.

Anchor Rahel Solomon announced Monday that she will be leaving CNN, revealing during the closing moments of her early morning program that her final broadcast is set for later this week.

“I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN. More to come on what’s next for me, but I’m really excited about this next chapter,” Solomon told viewers during the sign-off of Early Start.

Shortly after, the show’s official social media account shared a clip of her remarks. CNN has yet to announce who will fill her role.

“Thank you to the team at Early Start,” Solomon added. “To the larger team here at CNN – I’m going to be cheering you on. I look forward to watching.”

“So this is truly not goodbye, but see you soon,” she concluded.

Solomon, 37, had only recently returned to the anchor desk after taking six months of maternity leave. She stepped away in June and resumed hosting duties in December. She had taken over Early Start in March 2025 after joining CNN in 2022 from CNBC, following earlier roles at CBS affiliates in Colorado and Philadelphia.

Her departure comes just months after a major milestone in her personal life—marrying Philadelphia attorney Marcel S. Pratt in 2024 and welcoming their daughter in 2025.

While colleagues have reportedly expressed support for her decision, CNN has remained largely silent about the circumstances surrounding her exit—fueling speculation as the network navigates broader corporate upheaval.

Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery is currently at the center of a massive potential sale, with Paramount emerging as a leading bidder in a deal reportedly valued at over $100 billion. The proposed acquisition has raised concerns among staff about possible leadership and editorial changes.

Paramount CEO David Ellison has attempted to reassure observers, stating that CNN’s “editorial independence” would be preserved if the deal is approved by regulators in the United States and Europe.

Still, reports suggest Ellison has privately indicated intentions to overhaul the network, prompting unease among employees. The situation has also drawn attention from President Donald J. Trump, who has long criticized CNN and recently stated that “CNN must be sold.”

The unfolding media shake-up was addressed on-air by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who informed viewers of the latest developments during an episode of The Lead.

“So we have some breaking news in our national lead that affects everybody I’m looking at right now in the studio,” Tapper said.

“Moments ago, Netflix said it is declining to raise its offer for the purchase of Warner Bros. Studios and HBO, following the Warner Bros. Discovery board’s determination that Paramount, which is not just going for Warner Bros. Studios and HBO, but also the whole enchilada, including us here at CNN, Paramount has submitted a superior offer according to Warner Bros. Discovery’s board. As I’ve noted, Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN,” he continued.

As CNN faces potential ownership changes and internal shifts, Solomon’s departure underscores a broader moment of instability within legacy media—raising fresh questions about the network’s future direction in an increasingly competitive and politically charged landscape.