Anderson Cooper Departs 60 Minutes After Two Decades

Anderson Cooper has concluded his role as a correspondent for CBS News' 60 Minutes, a position he held for over 20 years. His final broadcast segment for the program aired on February 9, 2025. Cooper cited the difficulty of balancing the role with his full-time position as an anchor at CNN and a desire to spend more time with his young children as the reasons for his departure.

Timeline of Departure

Cooper announced his departure during the program's broadcast on Sunday, February 9, 2025. His final appearance on the show was on that same episode. Cooper joined 60 Minutes in 2006 as part of an agreement between CBS News and CNN.

Reasons for Leaving

Cooper stated that producing stories for 60 Minutes required significant time, patience, and resources, which he found challenging to manage while working primarily at CNN. He noted that he often worked on weekends and used vacation time to produce pieces for the program. He also cited a desire to spend more time with his family, including his young children.

Statements from Cooper

During his farewell segment, Cooper expressed admiration for the program and described working on 60 Minutes as a privilege. He spoke about traveling globally for the program, covering stories that highlighted human aspects behind news headlines. Cooper described moments during interviews where cameras seemed to disappear, emphasizing the trust established with interview subjects.

"I think the independence of 60 Minutes has been critical," Cooper stated. He added, "I hope the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains."

In his final sign-off, Cooper said, "I don't think the reality has hit me that I'm not going to be doing this any longer." He ended the segment by using the program's signature sign-off phrase: "I'm Anderson Cooper."

Context: Recent Changes at CBS News

60 Minutes has undergone changes under new ownership by David Ellison and the hiring of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. In December 2024, Weiss pulled a segment on conditions at El Salvador's CECOT prison, where the Trump administration sent deportees. Weiss stated the segment was "not ready" and required additional reporting. The segment aired weeks later without changes. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi characterized the decision to pull the segment as "political." A staff member told The Guardian that employees at 60 Minutes are concerned about potential changes for the show's 59th season.

Legal Settlement

President Trump's lawsuit against Paramount Global over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris resulted in a $16 million settlement. The agreement included stipulations for releasing transcripts of presidential candidate interviews after air.

Cooper's Background

Cooper joined 60 Minutes in 2006. The program debuted on CBS in 1968. Cooper described his departure by saying, "It's been a hell of a ride."

Personnel

• Producers: Brit McCandless Farmer, Andy Court
• Associate Producers: Rebecca Chertok Gonsalves, Jane Greeley
• Editors: Scott Rosann, Warren Lustig