Maria Bartiromo, a prominent anchor at Fox Business, has been unexpectedly fired from the network, according to reports. The company confirmed its "parting ways" with Bartiromo on Thursday.
Sources suggest that in the weeks leading up to her dismissal, Bartiromo experienced a significant cooling-off period at Fox News, with her staff reportedly being prevented from communicating with her. This isolation intensified as her future at the network became uncertain.
Allegations have surfaced that Bartiromo shared a confidential internal memo with President Donald Trump concerning Fox News' decision to limit coverage of his claims about the 2020 election being stolen. While this alleged leak may have been a final contributing factor, insiders indicate it was not the sole reason for her departure.
Reports from Mediaite indicate that Bartiromo's exit was not a surprise to those within Fox News, as her staff had expressed concern about the future of her shows for weeks. Insiders cited a "confluence of factors" and editorial disagreements as reasons for the breakdown in her relationship with Fox executives. These issues reportedly included her role in Fox's $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, stemming from the dissemination of Trump's election claims, and several on-air interviews this year that were described as "botched."
During the period of her strained relationship with Fox management, Bartiromo was reportedly difficult to reach, described by one source as "nowhere to be found" and as if she were "undercover." Her staff were allegedly ordered not to speak with her directly, requiring communication to go through management. Staff members had reportedly "freaking out" for weeks, sensing that "something was up."
Alongside Bartiromo, her longtime producer Patrick Ignozzi was also ousted from the network, according to Puck News.
Following the news of her termination and the reports of the alleged memo leak, President Trump publicly defended Bartiromo on his Truth Social platform. He praised her as a "total professional" and a "true warrior," expressing that her fans would be unhappy with the decision.
Bartiromo has reportedly hired attorney Bryan Freedman, who has previously represented other prominent news personalities who were let go from their networks, including Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. Her biographical information and show content have since been removed from the Fox News website, and her programs, "Mornings With Maria" and "Sunday Morning Futures," are expected to be hosted by a rotating group of anchors in the interim.