President Trump came to Maria Bartiromo’s defense, calling the longtime Fox News host a “true warrior” and saying her many supporters “will not be happy” following her abrupt departure from the cable network.
Bartiromo’s sudden exit, after 12 years at Fox News and Fox Business, was announced without explanation, a move that appeared to catch the president off guard Thursday night.
“I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He pointed to her success across “three different shows,” describing them as “always number one,” before adding: “Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior.”
Trump also predicted a backlash from Bartiromo’s audience, writing that her “fans, of which there are many, will not be happy.”
Bartiromo’s ouster was announced in a statement by Fox News Media hours after the final episode of “Mornings with Maria,” her weekday Fox Business Network show, aired Thursday morning.
“Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with Fox News Media,” the company said in a statement. “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12-and-a-half years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”
The unexpected announcement fueled speculation that Bartiromo could be replacing Karoline Leavitt as Trump’s press secretary.
However, Vice President JD Vance said he did not believe Bartiromo, 58, was headed to the White House after her departure.
“I love Maria. I think she’s an amazing person, amazing talent,” Vance told reporters. “Whatever she does, look, she’s gonna do great, and I wish her all the best.”
Bartiromo has not spoken out publicly about her exit from Fox News.
As of Thursday night, her X account still advertised her former shows on the cable news network.
Fox News and Fox Business are subsidiaries of Fox Corp — sister company to The Post’s corporate parent News Corp.