Maria Bartiromo's Fox News Future in Doubt: Lawyer Denies Firing Amidst Trump's Outcry

Fox News Media announced its parting of ways with long-time anchor Maria Bartiromo, a move that prompted reactions from former President Donald Trump and a strong rebuttal from Bartiromo's attorney. Fox News officially stated her departure was "a business decision," though no specific reason was initially provided. Bartiromo, a prominent figure often dubbed "The Money Honey" from her CNBC tenure before joining Fox Business in 2013/2014, last appeared on air on August 9.

In recent years, Bartiromo became increasingly aligned with Donald Trump and receptive to various MAGA conspiracy theories. This shift from her original mandate to cover Wall Street and business news to punditry and opinion is believed to have exposed Fox News to significant legal and financial risks. She was among several Fox News personnel cited in the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News in 2021, which the network settled for $787.5 million. The lawsuit alleged Bartiromo allowed false claims about the 2020 presidential election to air, aiming to retain pro-Trump viewers. She is also a defendant in a separate defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, another voting technology firm, over similar false claims.

A critical factor contributing to her departure appears to be an alleged breach of confidentiality. Sources familiar with the situation reported that Bartiromo is believed to have shared a confidential directive issued to executive producers at Fox Business Network with the White House. This directive reportedly cautioned staffers against supporting outlandish claims made by President Trump, and divulging such internal company information to an outside party would constitute a violation of employment terms. Furthermore, Bartiromo had expressed interest in pursuing stories about Trump's unverified claims of "rigged and stolen" elections and alleged Chinese interference in U.S. elections.

Beyond the legal and ethical concerns, financial performance also played a role. Bartiromo's main business program, "Mornings With Maria," was not generating top revenue for Fox. Nielsen data indicated that in recent quarters, her show attracted fewer viewers than its main rival, CNBC's "Squawk Box." In the third quarter of 2026, "Mornings With Maria" garnered just 5,000 viewers in the key 25-54 demographic, compared to 24,000 for "Squawk Box." Ad dollars for "Mornings With Maria" on Fox Business Network plummeted by nearly 58% from $8.9 million in 2022 to $3.7 million in 2025, while ad revenue for her Fox News program, "Sunday Morning Futures," dipped by nearly 22% during the same period.

Following the announcement, President Trump expressed his disbelief on Truth Social, praising Bartiromo as a "total professional, and a true warrior" and predicting unhappiness among her fans. However, Bartiromo's attorney, Bryan Freedman, vehemently denied reports that she was fired. In a statement, Freedman asserted, "The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false," adding that he possesses "receipts and witnesses" and is prepared to pursue legal action, whether "through the courthouse or otherwise."

The departure comes amidst broader challenges for the traditional cable news industry, including declining subscribers and revenue due to cord-cutting trends. Fox News, however, has a history of successfully navigating the abrupt departures of other prominent anchors like Tucker Carlson, Bill O'Reilly, and Megyn Kelly, often relying on its loyal viewer base to adapt to new lineups. While Bartiromo was initially recruited to bolster Fox's presence in business news, her evolving focus and the subsequent controversies ultimately impacted her standing within the company, leading to this complex separation.