Fox News Says Trump Supporter Maria Bartiromo Is Out, Effective Immediately

Fox News Media has dropped veteran anchor Maria Bartiromo, one of its most prominent on-air supporters of Donald Trump, announcing on Thursday, 3 September, that she is no longer with the company effective immediately after more than 12 years at the network.

Fox did not give a reason for the decision, instead thanking Bartiromo for her work and wishing her well in her next chapter. Bartiromo had not publicly commented on her departure as of Thursday.

Maria Bartiromo Is Out at Fox News

In a brief statement, Fox News Media said: 'We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.' Bartiromo had not appeared on any Fox News Media programmes since 9 August, nearly a month before Fox announced her departure.

Starting Friday, 4 September, 'Mornings with Maria' will be rebranded as 'Mornings with FOX Business' and will feature a rotating group of anchors.

Bartiromo's other Fox Business programme, 'Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street', will also be renamed 'FBN's Wall Street'. Cheryl Casone is scheduled to host initially, with other rotating anchors expected to take over in the future.

Bartiromo's departure also affects 'Sunday Morning Futures', the Fox News Channel programme she hosted on Sundays. Former congressman and Fox contributor Jason Chaffetz will temporarily host the 6 September edition, with Fox saying a permanent replacement will be announced later.

Why Did Fox News Cut Ties With Maria Bartiromo?

Fox News has not publicly disclosed why Bartiromo is leaving the network. That makes the sudden announcement notable.

It has been noted that Bartiromo had been off the air since early August, although the reason for her absence had not been publicly explained.

Reports have prompted speculation about what could be behind the decision, but there is currently no confirmed explanation from Fox News or Bartiromo herself. The network's official announcement simply said her departure was effective immediately.

Maria Bartiromo's Support for Donald Trump

Bartiromo's exit drew attention in part because of her relationship with US President Donald Trump and her increasingly prominent role as a conservative political commentator.

Bartiromo has been described as a staunch supporter of Trump, while noting her coverage of the former president's claims about the 2020 election.

Her interviews with Trump have also been a regular feature of her Fox programmes. Her political coverage became controversial following the 2020 presidential election, when she gave airtime to allegations of election fraud that were not supported by evidence.

Bartiromo's programming subsequently became part of the legal fallout surrounding Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems. Fox agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million in 2023 to settle the company's defamation lawsuit, shortly before trial.

The presenter has also been prominently connected to a separate defamation case brought by Smartmatic against Fox News over coverage of the 2020 election.

From CNBC Star to Fox News Powerhouse

Before joining Fox, Bartiromo spent more than two decades at CNBC, where she became one of the most recognisable financial journalists on American television. She left CNBC in 2013 and joined Fox Business Network in January 2014 as its Global Markets Editor.

She subsequently became the face of several programmes across Fox News Media, including 'Mornings with Maria', 'Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street' and 'Sunday Morning Futures'. Her career at Fox also included high-profile interviews with Trump and other senior political and business figures.

What Happens to Maria Bartiromo's Fox Shows?

For now, Fox is moving ahead with new formats rather than immediately naming permanent replacements. 'Mornings with Maria' will become 'Mornings with FOX Business' with rotating anchors, while 'Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street' will be renamed 'FBN's Wall Street', initially hosted by Cheryl Casone.

Meanwhile, Jason Chaffetz will temporarily take over 'Sunday Morning Futures'. Fox says further details about its new weekday Fox Business schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

For Bartiromo, the departure closes a more than 12-year chapter at Fox News Media. With the network declining to explain the reason for the split, questions are likely to continue surrounding the future of one of American television's most recognisable business and political broadcasters.