Fox News abruptly ousts Maria Bartiromo, a longtime Trump ally

Fox News has terminated long-time anchor Maria Bartiromo, an ally to former President Donald Trump. The decision came as a surprise to many, including President Trump, who expressed his disappointment on his social media platform. Fox News leadership reportedly made the decision to remove Bartiromo in August, based on her disclosure of confidential information to the White House, according to a source familiar with the matter.

However, there may have been additional factors influencing the decision, such as the network's refusal to cover Trump's conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election. Bartiromo's exit was effective immediately, with no opportunity for her to say goodbye or sign off on her own terms. Her departure marks the biggest personnel shakeup at Fox News since Tucker Carlson's dismissal in April 2023.

Despite her 12 1/2 years with the network, Bartiromo's connection to Trump and her promotion of his MAGA movement had become central to her role. Her relationship with Trump, who often praised her, also created challenges for Fox management. Bartiromo was among the first Fox anchors to promote false claims about the 2020 election, leading to a defamation lawsuit from voting machine companies.

She was also named in a defamation lawsuit filed by another voting machine company. Following her ouster, "Mornings with Maria" will be replaced by "Mornings with FOX Business," while "Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street" will become "FBN's Wall Street."