President Donald Trump expressed shock over Maria Bartiromo’s abrupt removal from Fox News Media’s lineup, after fresh details emerged about the company’s decision to take one of its most recognized hosts off air.
“I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business,” the president posted on Truth Social, adding, “Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior. Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy.”
Earlier Thursday, Fox News Media announced, “Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media. We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 1/2 years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”
Speculation swirled online after the company’s brief surprise statement. Some wondered whether Bartiromo, who is close to Trump, would fill the White House press secretary role left when Karoline Leavitt stepped down in August. But Vice President JD Vance, during a White House press briefing the same day, told reporters he didn’t believe she would be the next to fill the role.
By Thursday evening, details of her removal came into sharper focus, with media reporter Oliver Darcy writing for Status that Bartiromo was taken off air because she shared internal network guidance with the White House in July.
After Trump delivered his unhinged prime time speech in which he pushed more conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, this time making a number of allegations against China, I am told that Fox News issued guidance to senior employees instructing them to steer clear of giving credence to Trump’s delusional claims. I’m told that the guidance was issued in writing. …
It’s unclear whether Trump or someone at the White House inquired with Bartiromo about the lack of coverage. But ultimately Bartiromo spilled the secret, Status has learned, divulging to the White House that Trump’s speech had received scant coverage on the channel because network bosses had ordered it so. I’m even told the text message in which Fox News brass offered their guidance was shared by Bartiromo with the White House. In doing so, Bartiromo not only effectively betrayed her employer, but also disclosed confidential company information, violating the terms of her employment agreement.
Darcy did not identify his sourcing. The report was later confirmed by CNN, which cited a source familiar with the matter, and The New York Times, which cited a person familiar with the details. MS NOW has not independently confirmed the reporting.
In a statement Friday, Bartiromo attorney Bryan Freedman disputed reports that his client was “fired” or “no longer an employee of Fox,” calling such characterizations “unequivocally false.”
“Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise,” Freedman said in his statement. “Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth.”
A representative for Bartiromo declined to comment beyond Freedman’s statement. Fox News Media did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s requests for additional information.
Bartiromo came under scrutiny in recent years for promoting some of Trump’s baseless conspiracy theories, some of which prompted lawsuits against Fox News Media. She was named in the Dominion Voting Systems’ lawsuit against the network related to Trump’s false 2020 election claims. The network settled the lawsuit for $787.5 million.
The post ‘True warrior’: Trump praises Bartiromo after new details on Fox News departure emerge appeared first on MS NOW.
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