“I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Three different shows, always number one. Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior.”
Then, he hit the right-wing network ― which is usually a loyal MAGA ally ― with a veiled warning.
“Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy,” he wrote.
Maria Bartiromo, a longtime Fox News and Fox Business anchor, has abruptly parted ways with the network.
“Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media,” the network said in a statement Thursday. “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.” [Wow, talk about terse!]
The statement did not give a reason for her leaving the network, but a person familiar with the details, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said “Bartiromo’s departure was Fox’s decision.”
The dismissal came after Ms. Bartiromo shared internal Fox Business communications with the White House, a person familiar with the details confirmed.
In news first reported by Puck’s Dylan Byers and confirmed by two sources close to the situation, Fox, on Thursday fired Patrick Ignozzi — the executive producer of Mornings with Maria on Fox Business.
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo’s own staffers were barred from talking to her in the weeks before her ouster was announced, Mediaite has learned.
According to a source familiar with the matter, sharing the memo about Trump’s July comments was “not the only reason” that led to her abrupt defenestration.
The source confirmed that it was “a confluence of factors,” including Fox’s whopping $787.5 million settlement it had to pay to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 over 2020 election fraud claims Fox had aired, plus another similar lawsuit from Smartmatic “still hanging out there.” Bartiromo was among the main on-air personalities cited in these lawsuits and has continued to periodically peddle in election denialism. A Fox News media spokesperson told Mediaite that the move was simply a “business decision.”
