President Donald Trump was livid over Fox News’ abrupt firing of Maria Bartiromo, one of the network’s most prominent pro-Trump personalities, as the decision stunned conservatives and revived questions about Fox’s sometimes turbulent relationship with the president.

“I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business,” Trump posted on Truth Social late Thursday. “Three different shows, always number one. Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior. Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy. God bless you, Maria!”

Without warning, Fox announced Thursday that Bartiromo was leaving after more than a decade with the network but offered no explanation for the decision. “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter,” Fox said. The network separately characterized her departure as a “business decision.” People familiar with Trump’s reaction at the White House told Newsmax that he was “not happy” about Bartiromo’s sudden departure and lamented that Fox had already stripped her name from the network’s morning show when he tuned in Friday.

Why Bartiromo Was Fired

Multiple media reports say the immediate dispute involved Bartiromo allegedly sharing confidential Fox Business editorial guidance with senior White House officials. According to reports cited by Variety and Mediaite, Fox Business executives instructed producers following Trump’s July 16 prime-time address to not report on some of his key allegations involving China and the 2020 election. Bartiromo reportedly took a screenshot of the internal guidance and sent it to White House officials. Fox executives reportedly discovered what had happened after receiving a call from the White House. Variety reported that divulging confidential company information to an outside party would likely constitute a violation of employment terms. Fox also parted ways with Bartiromo’s executive producer, Patrick Ignozzi.

Reactions and Broader Context

Bartiromo’s removal immediately triggered anger among some conservatives, with some portraying it as another example of Fox parting ways with strongly pro-Trump personalities who clash with corporate management. Eric Trump called Bartiromo “the best in the business” and “the hardest-working person in media,” concluding, “This is a huge loss for Fox.” Kari Lake said Bartiromo had been willing to cover stories “others in the MSM wouldn’t touch” and called it “a shame Fox is letting her get away.” Other conservative commentators went further, suggesting Fox was conducting an “America First purge.”

Sources familiar with Bartiromo’s situation say she remains under a lucrative Fox contract running through 2029, potentially complicating her ability to immediately join a rival while continuing to receive compensation. Fox has used similar arrangements before. When Tucker Carlson was removed from prime time in 2023, his contract extended through January 2025. Fox reportedly was prepared to continue paying him about $10 million annually while preventing him from launching a competing program.

The criticism comes despite Fox’s prime-time lineup remaining heavily supportive of Trump and his administration. The deeper concern among some Trump allies is that the network’s corporate leadership remains willing to break with personalities who place loyalty to Trump ahead of Fox’s institutional interests. Liberal media reporter Yashar Ali wrote on X that Bartiromo had learned a lesson previously experienced by others who believed the Murdochs were motivated by shared ideology, only to discover that “their ultimate loyalty is only to themselves and their own interests.” He added: “It’s a lesson Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lou Dobbs, Bill O’Reilly, Tucker Carlson, Roger Ailes, Bill Shine and others have learned the hard way.” Ali also noted that Trump’s relationship with Rupert Murdoch is again strained, arguing that Murdoch’s political relationships ultimately follow his own corporate and political interests.

The firing also comes against the backdrop of Fox’s costly litigation over its coverage of the 2020 election. Fox agreed in 2023 to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle its defamation lawsuit. Bartiromo was among the Fox personalities whose broadcasts figured prominently in the litigation.