President Donald Trump weighed in Thursday night on Maria Bartiromo’s abrupt departure from Fox News Media, praising the longtime anchor and predicting that her audience would be unhappy with the network’s decision.
Trump issued the response on Truth Social hours after Fox confirmed that Bartiromo was leaving the company effective immediately, ending a run that lasted more than 12 years.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said he “can’t believe” Bartiromo will no longer host her programs on Fox News and Fox Business. He highlighted the three programs she hosted and described her as a “total professional” and “true warrior.”
“Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy,” Trump added before offering his well wishes to Bartiromo.
Trump’s reaction followed an unusually brief announcement from Fox News Media confirming Bartiromo’s exit Thursday.
“Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media,” the company announced, thanking her for her work and wishing her well in her “next chapter.” Fox did not publicly specify a reason for the departure in its announcement.
Bartiromo hosted several prominent programs across the company’s two major cable networks, including “Mornings with Maria” and “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street” on Fox Business and “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News.
Her final “Mornings with Maria” episode aired Thursday morning. The three-hour weekday program was set to become “Mornings with FOX Business” beginning Friday, with a group of rotating anchors taking over.
The weekly “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street” is also being renamed “FBN’s Wall Street.” Cheryl Casone will initially host the revamped program before rotating anchors assume the role.
Fox also announced that former Rep. Jason Chaffetz will host “Sunday Morning Futures” this weekend while the network searches for a permanent replacement.
The company said a broader weekday programming schedule for Fox Business will be announced in the coming weeks.
Bartiromo joined Fox Business in 2014 after spending roughly two decades at CNBC, where she became one of the most recognizable figures in financial television journalism.
During her years at Fox, Bartiromo expanded beyond business coverage and became increasingly involved in political reporting and interviews.
Trump appeared with Bartiromo repeatedly over the years, including on “Sunday Morning Futures.” Fox’s own archive lists recent interviews and discussions involving Trump and members of his administration on the program.
The president had also publicly praised Bartiromo shortly before her departure. In July, Trump posted on Truth Social that “Maria Bartiromo is FANTASTIC!!!”
Her coverage of the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election later became part of major defamation litigation involving Fox.
Bartiromo was among the Fox personalities whose broadcasts were scrutinized in Dominion Voting Systems’ lawsuit against the network over false claims about the company’s voting machines. Fox ultimately reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion in 2023.
Smartmatic also brought defamation litigation against Fox stemming from election-related claims aired by the network. That case remains unresolved, according to the Associated Press.
Bartiromo’s departure was described by Fox as effective immediately, but the company’s public statement offered no details about what precipitated the split. The Associated Press similarly reported that no reason was specified, per Trending Politics.
Axios, citing a Fox spokesperson, reported that Bartiromo was fired for “business-related reasons.”
Trump did not address why Bartiromo left Fox in his Thursday night response. Instead, he focused on her career, the programs she hosted and the viewers who followed her.
His message ended with a prediction for Fox as it begins replacing one of its longest-serving personalities: Bartiromo’s audience, Trump said, “will not be happy.”
