CNN hires former longtime CNBC correspondent John Harwood

Longtime CNBC chief Washington correspondent John Harwood has signed with CNN as a White House correspondent, according to a Tuesday announcement on Twitter.

“Some personal news: this is my first day at @CNN as White House Correspondent,” wrote Harwood. “Honored and proud to join a team of journalists I’ve admired for so long.” 

some personal news: this is my first day at @CNN as White House Correspondent. honored and proud to join a team of journalists I’ve admired for so long

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) January 21, 2020

Harwood had been CNBC’s chief Washington correspondent since 2006.

He has had some notable interactions with President Trump, including at an October 2015 CNBC Republican primary debate when he faced criticism for his questions of then-candidate Trump.

“Let’s be honest,” Harwood said in his first question to Trump, the front-runner at the time who eventually captured the Republican nomination. “Is this a comic book version of a presidential campaign?”

Trump replied that it wasn’t, adding that he thought it wasn’t a “nicely asked question.”

Then-Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus took to Twitter afterward to slam CNBC and later decided to suspend an upcoming debate with sister network NBC as a result. 

CNBC should be ashamed of how this debate was handled. #GOPDebate

— Reince Priebus (@Reince) October 29, 2015

CNN’s hiring of Harwood faced quick criticism from some conservatives on social media.

CNN hiring John Harwood as a White House correspondent, given his rhetoric, seems strongly to suggest they really are trying to fight MSNBC for market share.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 21, 2020

As has been documented for years, this man is too dim and way too hackishly partisan to be offering even his poorly-developed opinions at a legit outlet. To be a WH correspondent is flat out laughable. This would be shameful, if CNN were intending to be treated as respectable. https://t.co/HVUSBOdzMq

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 21, 2020

John Harwood Gets A Gig At CNN — Here Are His Worst Instances Of Bias https://t.co/GCkjB6Psn6

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 21, 2020

Harwood has spent years talking about how the Republican Party is “fundamentally broken.”

Sounds like most of CNN’s political commentators.. not a White House correspondent. https://t.co/QHeJ5CVTrJ

— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 21, 2020

Harwood joins CNN White House correspondents Jim Acosta and Kaitlan Collins with the 2020 election just 290 days away.