The crumbling facade of journalistic integrity at CNN suffered another seismic blow this week as top national security correspondent Alex Marquardt announced his departure following the network’s humiliating, multi-million dollar settlement with decorated Navy veteran Zachary Young. This expensive retreat comes after a jury found CNN guilty of defamation, forced to pay punitive damages on top of a prior $5 million award for emotional and financial devastation inflicted upon Young.
Marquardt’s terse “personal news” tweet, devoid of any reference to the scandal or the veteran whose life CNN shattered, speaks volumes about the network’s culture of unaccountability. His platitudes about “terrific years” and “phenomenal teammates” ring hollow against the court’s damning verdict: CNN’s coverage exhibited “actual malice, express malice, and a level of conduct outrageous enough” to justify Young seeking significant damages.
Some personal news: I’m leaving CNN after 8 terrific years. Tough to say goodbye but it’s been an honor to work among the very best in the business. Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I’ve worked with in the US and abroad.
— Alex Marquardt (@MarquardtA) June 2, 2025
This lawsuit exposed the reckless, agenda-driven reporting endemic within the liberal media, particularly concerning efforts linked to the Trump administration or its supporters. Young, a patriot who risked everything to help desperate Afghans escape the Taliban’s clutches during the Biden administration’s catastrophic withdrawal, was transformed by CNN into a villain.
Marquardt and anchor Jake Tapper, icons of the establishment media, falsely and maliciously accused Young of running a “black market” scheme and exploiting “desperate Afghans” for personal gain. They weaponized his words, cruelly mocking his use of “unfortunately” when describing the “extremely limited” availability of evacuation flights – twisting his empathy into perceived greed. This wasn’t journalism; it was a character assassination designed to fit a pre-determined narrative vilifying private evacuation efforts that exposed the Biden administration’s incompetence. As Young rightly argued, CNN “intentionally painted him in a bad light”, causing irreparable harm to his security consulting business and reputation.
The timing of Marquardt’s exit, so closely following this costly settlement, is impossible to ignore. It underscores the rot festering within CNN and the broader liberal media complex, which operates with impunity until held financially liable. This case is a stark reminder of why President Donald J. Trump has consistently and correctly denounced these outlets as “Fake News” and “the enemy of the people.”
NEW: Jury finds CNN liable for defaming U.S. Navy veteran who helped with Afghanistan evacuation. pic.twitter.com/RfJM6luR4c
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 17, 2025
Their default mode is not truth-seeking but narrative-enforcement, especially when it involves undermining figures associated with the America First agenda or exposing Democratic failures. President Trump fought tirelessly for our veterans and demanded accountability from a media apparatus that too often serves as the propaganda arm of the left.
This multi-million dollar judgment against CNN is a rare instance of tangible consequences for their destructive, biased practices. It vindicates President Trump’s longstanding warnings about media malfeasance and highlights the urgent need for continued scrutiny and stronger libel laws to protect citizens from such predatory “reporting.” The liberal media’s reckless disregard for truth, driven by partisan animus and arrogance, has real-world victims like Zachary Young – and now, finally, a price tag CNN couldn’t ignore.