Fox News ends 12-year run with Maria Bartiromo amid unexplained shake-up
Maria Bartiromo has abruptly left Fox News and Fox Business after 12.5 years, with the network offering no reason for the departure. Her shows are being rebranded or replaced by rotating anchors, while speculation persists about whether her exit stems from legal fallout or a conflict with the White House over election-related coverage.
Key points
- Fox News Media confirmed Bartiromo's departure effective September 3, 2026, citing no specific reason in a brief statement.
- Her flagship program 'Mornings with Maria' is being replaced by 'Mornings with Fox Business' featuring rotating anchors, while 'Bartiromo's Wall Street' is rebranded as 'FBN's Wall Street.'
- Jason Chaffetz is temporarily hosting 'Sunday Morning Futures' as the network searches for a new permanent host.
- Bartiromo had not appeared on air since August 9, 2026, prior to the official announcement of her exit.
- The departure follows a broader pattern of personnel changes at Fox News and coincides with ongoing legal scrutiny over 2020 election coverage.
Background
Bartiromo previously built a career at CNBC and CNN before joining Fox in 2013. Her exit occurs amid a 2025 Smartmatic lawsuit alleging she spread election-fraud rumors, a claim she denies. Internal documents related to Dominion and Smartmatic lawsuits have previously revealed her past openness to theories that the 2020 election was rigged, though Fox has not confirmed this as the cause of her departure.
How outlets are covering it
The Washington Post and CNN report the departure as an abrupt, unexplained business decision, noting Fox's lack of justification. The Daily Beast, however, asserts that Bartiromo was fired for informing the White House about Fox's secret instructions not to promote election conspiracies, a claim not corroborated by the other outlets. All sources agree on the immediate rebranding of her shows and the absence of an official reason from Fox News Media.
Why it matters
The sudden exit of a high-profile anchor signals potential internal shifts at Fox News, particularly regarding its relationship with the Trump administration and its handling of election-related narratives. The rebranding of her shows indicates a strategic move to maintain audience engagement without relying on a single personality, reflecting broader trends in cable news programming.
What to watch
Fox News is expected to finalize a new weekday schedule and identify a permanent host for 'Sunday Morning Futures.' Legal proceedings involving Smartmatic and Dominion may continue to influence public perception of Bartiromo's past statements, though no further action has been announced by the network.
- Longtime host Maria Bartiromo abruptly departs Fox News The Washington Post
- Maria Bartiromo Is Out at Fox News The New York Times
- What we know about Maria Bartiromo's abrupt exit from Fox News USA Today
- Fox News abruptly ousts Maria Bartiromo, a longtime Trump ally CNN
- Jaw-Dropping Reason Fox Abruptly Fired Trumpy Star Revealed thedailybeast.com
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