ANCHOR Norah O’Donnell has been slammed over her tearful goodbye as she signed off from CBS Evening News for the final time.

The veteran journalist is leaving the network after 12 years as CBS launches a major makeover for its news programs.

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Norah O’Donnell on her final on-air sign-off on ThursdayCredit: CBS

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Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan moderated the vice presidential debate on October 1, 2024Credit: Reuters

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O’Donnell has been a CBS anchor for 12 yearsCredit: Getty
O’Donnell, 51, said her main anchor position, which she held since 2019, was the “honor of a lifetime” in an emotional goodbye on Thursday night.

“It has been an incredible five and a half years,” O’Donnell said.

However, some viewers quickly blasted the anchor on her way out and accused her of being biased against President Donald Trump.

“Nora, seriously, you are not a journalist. You are a joke,” one X user wrote in response to a video of her sentimental farewell.

“CBS is unwatchable. So so biased. Very disappointing,” another slammed.

Another accused her of being “biased and mean.”

Other CBS viewers recalled the vice presidential debate, which was moderated by O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

They insisted this was the moment that led to O’Donnell’s undoing as the face of the evening program.

“Norah O’Donnell is leaving the CBS Evening News after tonight’s broadcast,” one X user wrote on Thursday.

“Leave and don’t come back. You disgraced yourself during the VP debate.”

Norah O’Donnell leaving CBS Evening News to launch new show as she pens farewell letter after 12 years as anchor
Another raged, “So disappointed in Margaret since the debate! Along with Norah O’Donnell. Blatantly biased against Trump.”

A third added, “I’m glad she is gone! I have not turned on [CBS News] since debate! She was a mouth piece for Democrats not real news.”

“Her disgraceful behavior as a debate moderator made me question whether she was like that about everything,” another wrote.

“Newsroom reform would be a wonderful thing, but I don’t expect to see it.”

Norah O’Donnell’s final on-air sign-off

Norah O’Donnell said goodbye to her spot as the main CBS Evening News anchor on Thursday night.

“This has been the honor of a lifetime to anchor this legacy broadcast,” O’Donnell said.

“The CBS Evening News – for good reason – is the longest-running evening newscast in America. And it is powered by the finest journalists in the world.

“The correspondents, producers, researchers and crews who work tirelessly to bring you the news every night.

“That won’t change because journalism matters.

“I know that because I’ve heard that from so many of you, our viewers.

“So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting us and welcoming hard news with heart into your homes.

“I will miss you too, but I will see you on CBS News programs including Mornings, 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning, and in primetime.

“So for the final time, that’s tonight’s CBS Evening News,” she said as she was flanked by her colleagues.

“I owe it all to everyone I work with. Seriously. Love you. Good night.”

O’Donnell and Brennan interrupted the debate on October 1 between JD Vance and Tim Walz to conduct a fact check.

It sparked outrage as CBS had previously said there would be no mid-debate corrections.

Trump blasted the moderators as “extremely biased” and “liars” in a post on Truth Social at the time.

He also called out O’Donnell for stepping down as an anchor, which she announced in July.

“I thought Norah was fired from CBS for Low Ratings. Why is she still on?” Trump wrote at the time.

He later added, “Norah just made a statement about the Election, not a question. She’s having a bad night!”

O’DONNELL’S FUTURE

O’Donnell announced in July 2024 that she would leave her role as anchor and managing editor after the 2024 presidential election as CBS faced an overhaul.

Instead of anchoring every night from Washington DC, O’Donnell will now work on long-form stories and appear on CBS’s primetime specials Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes.

The correspondent was named host and managing editor of CBS Evening News in 2019 after seven years as co-anchor of CBS This Morning.

Before joining CBS News in 2011, O’Donnell had a 12-year run at NBC News, where she served as the network’s Washington Bureau correspondent and MSNBC’s Chief White House correspondent.

The longtime anchor announced her decision to leave CBS just months before the network’s parent company, Paramount Global, laid off around 2,000 staffers, 15% of its US employees, in its merger with Skydance Media in August.

The planned merger, expected to finish in September 2025, sparked Paramount Global to cut $500 million before the end of 2024.

It came after O’Donnell’s salary was cut by more than half when it dropped from $8 million to $3.8 million in 2022, according to the New York Post.

CBS’ Evening News will now rely on multiple co-anchors to fill O’Donnell’s spot.

The network is moving toward a more digital-centric broadcast to follow along with industry trends.

In terms of ratings, CBS Evening News has been stuck in third place behind ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC’s NBC Nightly News for years.

‘WHAT AN ICON’

While Trump supporters piled on O’Donnell following her exit on Thursday, other CBS viewers showed their support for the veteran broadcaster.

“Really going to miss her,” one X user wrote.

“What an icon she is. Best wishes to her!”

Another added, “This will be the biggest regret for CBS News. Norah is hands down the best of all news media.”

CBS isn’t the only network facing major changes.

The CEO of CNN warned that the network could “no longer exist” if it doesn’t adapt to the changing landscape of legacy media.

Plus, more speculation is swirling about CNN anchor Jim Acosta’s future.

However, Acosta gave a cheeky sign-off on Friday where he vowed he’s “still reporting from Washington.”

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Norah O’Donnell reporting from the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WisconsinCredit: Getty