Maria Bartiromo exits Fox News after 12 year run
Maria Bartiromo leaves Fox News, ending a high profile run and prompting major changes across Fox Business programming.
Maria Bartiromo’s abrupt departure from Fox News Media is raising questions about what led to the shocking move.
Fox News Media announced they were cutting ties with the prominent anchor effective immediately in a Sept. 3 press release. Bartiromo, who was with the network for over a decade, had not appeared on any of her three shows since Aug. 9.
“We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter,” the brief statement said, offering no further explanation.
Here is what we know about her departure:
Who is taking over Maria Bartiromo’s role?
The press release stated the final episode of Bartiromo’s three-hour weekday show “Mornings with Maria” had aired that morning on Fox Business Network and would be renamed “Mornings with FOX Business” beginning Sept. 4, and would be hosted by rotating anchors.
Additionally, the release said the weekly program “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street” was shifting to “FBN’s Wall Street” with rotating anchors, and former Republican congressman Jason Chaffetz would be stepping in to host Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” until a new host was found.
Fox Business also revealed plans to introduce a new weekday programming schedule in coming weeks.
Why did Maria Bartiromo leave Fox?
Bartiromo joined Fox Business to cover Wall Street in 2014 after two decades at CNBC. She became known for being the first woman to report from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and for her staunch support of the Trump administration.
While President Donald Trump and his associates have praised Bartiromo, with Trump even appointing her to the board of the Kennedy Center last year, she has been engulfed in legal trouble for Fox in recent years.
In 2021, voting machine company Dominion Voting launched a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, naming Bartiromo as one of the anchors who spread “stolen election” falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election. The matter was later settled for $787.5 million.
Shortly after the settlement in 2023, top-rated Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson separated from the network. He had been hired in 2016 to replace Bill O’Reilly, who was fired after settling a sexual harassment investigation.
Bartiromo’s exit comes amid the White House’s search for a new press secretary, leading to speculation that may be her next role. However, Vice President JD Vance dismissed the idea at a Sept. 3 press briefing.
“I don’t know, man,” Vance said, laughing at a question about whether Bartiromo is going to be the next press secretary. “No, I don’t think so.”
Maria Bartiromo’s exit follows Fox’s apology for comments on her show
In June, Fox News issued an apology that Bartiromo had to read on air addressing comments made by entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, who said the Chinese government was funding opponents of his Utah data center during an appearance on Bartiromo’s program.
Fox News and the “Shark Tank” investor are now facing a defamation lawsuit from two Utah nonprofits and their founders over the comments.