News 4 min read By Trevor Kendall
Trump Says Maria Bartiromo's Fox News Exit Will Disappoint Her 'Many' Fans
President Donald Trump reacted to Fox News' announcement that it has parted ways with anchor Maria Bartiromo after more than 12 years, saying her fans 'will not be happy.'
President Donald Trump weighed in on Fox News' surprise announcement that it has parted ways with longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo, suggesting her departure will not sit well with her audience. In remarks responding to the news, Trump said Bartiromo's "many" fans "will not be happy" about her exit from the network, where she had worked for more than 12 years.
Fox News did not provide a reason for its decision to dismiss Bartiromo, a former prominent CNBC anchor who joined the network in 2015. The announcement came Thursday, catching many inside and outside the company off guard. Bartiromo had been a fixture on both Fox News and Fox Business Network, hosting multiple programs that frequently topped the ratings in their time slots.
Sources familiar with the situation told Deadline that the final decision followed what they described as a case of "very bad judgment" that had been building for some time. The outlet reported that legal threats and accusations that Bartiromo shared insider information were swirling around her exit, though no formal charges or findings have been made public. The sources characterized the departure as a "self-inflicted wound" that had been a long time coming.
Bartiromo, through her attorney Bryan Freedman, has disputed the characterization that she was fired. Freedman issued a statement insisting that Bartiromo hosted three No. 1 rated television shows on Fox channels for many years and called her "one of the hardest working journalists throughout her award winning career." He added that the team has "the receipts" to back up their position, suggesting a legal battle may be on the horizon.
Trump, who has frequently appeared on Bartiromo's programs and praised her coverage over the years, offered a more sympathetic take. He described her as a "true warrior" in the media landscape, according to Deadline, and expressed doubt that her departure would be well received by viewers who had come to rely on her reporting and interviews.
The split marks a significant shakeup for Fox News Media, which has relied on Bartiromo as a key figure in its business and political coverage. Her shows often featured exclusive interviews with conservative figures and Wall Street executives, making her one of the network's most recognizable personalities. The lack of an official explanation from Fox has left room for speculation about the circumstances surrounding her exit.
Bartiromo's career spans decades, beginning with a long tenure at CNBC where she became one of the most visible financial journalists on television. She joined Fox in 2015 and quickly became a staple of the network's daytime and primetime lineup. Her departure raises questions about the future direction of Fox Business Network and who will fill the programming gaps left by her absence.
Neither Fox News nor Bartiromo has commented further since the initial announcement and Freedman's statement. The situation continues to develop as industry observers watch for additional details about the reasons behind the split and what comes next for the veteran anchor.
