Longtime Fox News host Maria Bartiromo has exited the network after nearly 13 years, with reports suggesting her departure followed allegations of leaking sensitive internal communications to the White House. Bartiromo is accused of informing White House personnel that Fox News leadership had instructed reporters to avoid giving credence to President Donald Trump's claims about the 2020 election during his July primetime speech.
According to reports, Bartiromo allegedly shared a text message she received from Fox News bosses with White House staff, a move that may have violated her employment agreement. Fox News leadership reportedly learned of her actions after receiving a call from the White House, leading to her being pulled from the air on August 9.
Bartiromo's exit was announced Thursday, with her final show on Fox Business on Thursday morning featuring Cheryl Casone as a substitute host. Her daytime program will now be hosted by a rotating cast of anchors and will be renamed "Mornings With Fox Business." Additionally, her show "Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street" will have her name removed.
A Fox News spokesperson stated that Bartiromo's departure was a "business decision and the release speaks for itself," when asked about reports linking her exit to the alleged leak. The network thanked Bartiromo for her contributions and wished her well.
This situation follows previous controversies involving Bartiromo and the 2020 election claims. Fox News paid a $787.5 million settlement in 2023 to Dominion Voting Systems after the company filed a lawsuit over claims questioned by Bartiromo regarding the voting system's technology and methods following Trump's election loss. Bartiromo was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, another voting technology company, though her lawyers argued that the suit failed to allege actual malice on her part.
During the period of the alleged leak, Bartiromo was reportedly pursuing a story concerning China and the 2020 election, focusing on Trump's claims of Chinese interference. Bartiromo joined Fox News in 2014 from CNBC, where she had worked since 1993. Her tenure at Fox News reportedly earned her $70 million.
Vice President JD Vance has downplayed speculation that Bartiromo might be considered for the White House press secretary role, telling reporters he did not believe it was likely.