Fox News Media ousts anchor Maria Bartiromo after 12 years at network

Immediate exit from Fox News Media

Fox News Media announced on Thursday that anchor Maria Bartiromo has left the network, ending her 12-and-a-half-year career across the company's broadcast properties. The Fox Corp.-owned channels issued a brief press statement confirming the departure was effective immediately, without detailing the specific reasons behind the decision. Bartiromo served as one of the broadcaster's busiest on-air personalities, anchoring multiple daily and weekly programs across both the Fox Business Network and the Fox News Channel. Reporting on her departure noted conflicting timelines regarding her final days on the airwaves, with some outlets stating she had been absent since early August, while others documented that her final live morning broadcast concluded on Thursday.

We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 and a half years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.

Coverage of Wall Street and 2020 election lawsuits

Bartiromo first built her broadcast journalism career during the 1990s as a financial reporter for CNBC, establishing herself through regular live reports from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange where she became known as the "Money Honey." Following her move to the Rupert Murdoch media group, her television programs placed growing emphasis on political commentary and dedicated support for Donald Trump. Her programming following the 2020 United States presidential election placed her in a prominent role across two high-stakes defamation lawsuits against Fox News Media. Dominion Voting Systems settled its election-related defamation lawsuit against the network in April 2023, while a second defamation suit filed by election technology company Smartmatic remains ongoing in the courts.

Speculation surrounding the Trump administration

Her sudden departure from the network led colleagues inside Fox News Media to question whether the exit was connected to the unresolved Smartmatic lawsuit or potential government service. Bartiromo had previously been linked in reports to potential appointments within the Trump administration, including the vacant role of White House press secretary. Several other television figures and former Fox News contributors have pursued positions within Trump's administration and political circle. Outside of her daily cable news roles, Bartiromo and fellow Fox News host Laura Ingraham were both appointed to the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center in the spring.

Transition plans for Fox Business and Fox News

Following the announcement, Fox News Media detailed a series of immediate interim programming changes to cover Bartiromo's vacated broadcast hours. Her three-hour weekday morning show on Fox Business Network, formerly titled Mornings with Maria from 6:00 to 9:00 AM Eastern Time, is transitioning to Mornings with FOX Business starting on Friday with rotating anchors. Her weekly program Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street is shifting to FBN's Wall Street, with network anchor Cheryl Casone hosting this week's edition prior to rotating presenters taking over. On Fox News Channel, former Republican congressman and network contributor Jason Chaffetz will step in to host Sunday Morning Futures in its 10:00 to 11:00 AM Eastern Time slot this weekend, pending the selection of a permanent anchor. Fox Business Network also stated that an overhauled weekday lineup will be officially unveiled in the coming weeks.