Maria Bartiromo, a prominent anchor and financial journalist, has abruptly departed Fox News Media, effective immediately as of Thursday. The announcement from Fox was notably brief, stating simply, "Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media," and wishing her well in her "next chapter." No public reason was provided by the network for the sudden split.
"I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business. Three different shows, always number one. Total professional and true warrior." President Donald Trump, Truth Social
Hours after Fox's announcement, President Donald Trump weighed in on the news via his Truth Social platform. President Trump praised Bartiromo extensively, highlighting her long career and influence. He expressed disbelief at her departure and predicted significant dissatisfaction among her viewership. "I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business. Three different shows, always number one. Total professional and true warrior," President Trump wrote. He added, "Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy." President Trump concluded his message by offering his well wishes to Bartiromo.
Bartiromo's departure marks the end of a more than 12-year tenure at Fox News Media, where she hosted several high-profile programs across both Fox News and Fox Business networks. Her portfolio included "Mornings with Maria" and "Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street" on Fox Business, and "Sunday Morning Futures" on Fox News. Her final episode of "Mornings with Maria" aired Thursday morning.
Following her exit, Fox has moved swiftly to restructure its programming. "Mornings with Maria," a three-hour weekday program, will be rebranded as "Mornings with FOX Business," with a rotating roster of anchors initially taking the helm. Similarly, "Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street" will become "FBN’s Wall Street," with Cheryl Casone slated to host before rotating anchors assume the role. For "Sunday Morning Futures," former Rep. Jason Chaffetz will host this weekend as the network searches for a permanent replacement. Fox News Media has indicated that a broader revised weekday programming schedule for Fox Business will be announced in the coming weeks.
Maria Bartiromo joined Fox Business in 2014, following a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades at CNBC, where she established herself as a leading figure in financial television journalism. During her time at Fox, her scope expanded beyond traditional business news to encompass significant political reporting and interviews. She frequently interviewed President Trump and members of his administration, and he had publicly lauded her work on multiple occasions, including a Truth Social post in July where he declared, "Maria Bartiromo is FANTASTIC!!!"
The timing and abruptness of Bartiromo's departure have garnered attention, particularly given her prominent role in past legal challenges faced by Fox. Her coverage of the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election became a subject of scrutiny in major defamation litigation. Bartiromo was among the Fox personalities whose broadcasts were examined in Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit against the network. Dominion alleged that Fox aired false claims about the company's voting machines. Fox ultimately settled with Dominion for $787.5 million in 2023. Another defamation lawsuit, brought by Smartmatic, which also stems from election-related claims aired by the network, remains unresolved.
While Fox's public statement offered no specific reason for Bartiromo's immediate departure, the Associated Press similarly reported that no reason was specified. Axios, however, citing a Fox spokesperson, reported that Bartiromo was fired for "business-related reasons." President Trump's reaction on Truth Social did not delve into the reasons behind her exit, instead focusing on her professional legacy, her programs, and the loyalty of her audience, whose unhappiness he predicted. The void left by one of the network's longest-serving and most recognizable personalities will undoubtedly be a significant adjustment for Fox News Media and its viewers.