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Former Trump Campaign Advisor Steve Cortes Is Leaving Cable Channel Newsmax

UPDATED: Steve Cortes, former Trump Campaign advisor is leaving rightward cable channel Newsmax. He will host his last broadcast within the next week.

According to The Daily Beast, Cortes and the network have had tension between them for some time. The host denies that there were any issues, but the publication reported that Newsmax’s company-wide vaccine policy is what led him to exit.

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Newsmax, however, issued a statement to The Daily Beast denying that vaccine issues played a part in Cortes’ exit.

“Any claims that Mr. Cortes was fired or quit Newsmax over vaccine issues is completely false,” Newsmax said. “Newsmax never has had, nor does it ever plan to have, a vaccine mandate and we have taken every step to make sure staff can easily opt-out of Biden’s proposed OSHA requirements.”

Earlier this month, according to Mediaite, Newsmax instituted a rule that all employees must either be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID testing, as Joe Biden’s administration seeks to implement new requirements via the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cortes has been vocal about his disdain for vaccine mandates, and posted his opposition on Twitter.

Speaking ill of his employer in public may have been the last straw, but someone currently on the Newsmax staff mentioned this has been in the works for some time.

“It’s been ongoing for a while,” one current Newsmax staffer told The Daily Beast, adding that Cortes is “a constant risk” due to his penchant for making controversial and inflammatory comments.

Some other speculations are that there might be legal troubles pending between Cortes and the broadcast network and “because the ratings for [the Cortes] show suck” and Newsmax is just looking for a change of pace.

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