Fox News parts ways with Maria Bartiromo after weeks of absence

Fox News Media has abruptly parted ways with anchor Maria Bartiromo after a 12-year tenure, following her sudden absence from the air since August 9, 2026. Reports indicate Bartiromo was fired for leaking a confidential internal memo to the Trump White House, which had instructed staff not to cover Donald Trump's July election conspiracy claims. Trump publicly defended Bartiromo on Truth Social, calling her a "true warrior" and warning Fox News that her fans will not be happy, amid speculation she may join his administration.

Bartiromo departure from Fox

• ▪Maria Bartiromo had been absent from her Fox News Media programs since August 9, 2026, prior to the announcement of her departure
• ▪Fox News Media staffers and Maria Bartiromo's own program staff were instructed by management not to contact her in the weeks leading up to her firing
• ▪Fox News Media parted ways with anchor Maria Bartiromo on September 3, 2026, ending her 12-year tenure at Fox News and Fox Business Network effective immediately

Leaked memo to White House

• ▪The leaked Fox News memo instructed producers and senior employees not to report on or lend credence to Donald Trump's July 2026 election conspiracy claims
• ▪Reports from Status, Puck News, and other outlets indicate Maria Bartiromo was fired for leaking a screenshot of a confidential Fox News memo to the Trump White House

2020 election conspiracy coverage

• ▪Maria Bartiromo reportedly pushed to cover Donald Trump's July 2026 election conspiracy theories on her program before network brass ordered her to back off
• ▪Maria Bartiromo was a prominent promoter of Donald Trump's false claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election on her Fox programs

Dominion defamation settlement

• ▪Fox News remains embroiled in another defamation lawsuit regarding its coverage of false 2020 election claims
• ▪Fox News paid a $787.5 million settlement to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to resolve a defamation lawsuit over false 2020 election claims broadcast on the network

Trump response on Truth Social

• ▪Donald Trump praised Maria Bartiromo's three programs on Truth Social, asserting they were always number one in ratings
• ▪Donald Trump criticized Fox News' decision on Truth Social, calling Maria Bartiromo a total professional and warning that her fans will not be happy

Potential White House role

• ▪The Trump administration is in the process of hiring a new White House press secretary to replace Karoline Leavitt
• ▪Maria Bartiromo's departure from Fox News sparked speculation that she may be considered for a role in the Trump administration, such as White House press secretary

4 sources