Maria Bartiromo, a prominent television ally of President Donald Trump, has abruptly parted ways with Fox News after more than a decade at the network. Fox did not provide a reason for her exit, sparking speculation about her future, possibly within the Trump administration. In a statement to Newsweek, Fox announced that “effective today,” Bartiromo was no longer with them and expressed gratitude for her 12 1/2 years of service, wishing her well in her next chapter.
The departure takes effect immediately. Her last show of Mornings with Maria aired on Thursday, while Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street is being rebranded to FBN’s Wall Street. The Sunday Morning Futures slot will temporarily feature Jason Chaffetz until a permanent replacement is named.
Speculation About Her Future
Bartiromo’s exit is significant because she maintained strong ratings at Fox. Sunday Morning Futures was the network’s top-rated weekend show, drawing around 1.9 million viewers in the year’s second quarter. There are no signs that poor ratings influenced her departure.
Questions now arise about whether Bartiromo, 58, will transition from television to Washington, potentially replacing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who left in August. Bartiromo has maintained a close rapport with Trump, offering him a supportive platform. However, she has also challenged his administration at times, notably Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding Trump’s tariff policy. There’s no word from Fox about her future plans.
Election Fraud Coverage
Bartiromo’s coverage of the 2020 presidential election remains her most contentious issue. During and after the election, she devoted significant airtime to Trump’s claims of election fraud, interviewing Trump lawyer Sidney Powell despite queries about the evidence supporting Powell’s allegations. These interviews later became pivotal in litigation involving Dominion Voting Systems against Fox.
In testimony, Bartiromo defended her coverage, stating that her audience sought updates on Trump and his legal team’s actions and that she pressed for evidence. She is also a defendant in Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuit against Fox, drawing scrutiny to the network’s handling of election fraud claims. Nevertheless, the controversy appears to have bolstered her status with Trump’s political base.
A separate incident in 2020 involved an animal-rights activist masquerading as the CEO of Smithfield Foods on Fox Business. The interview aired for over six minutes before the deception was uncovered, after which Bartiromo acknowledged the incident as a prank.
Her Viewership and Impact
Bartiromo’s exit doesn’t appear linked to falling viewership. Fox News Media’s first-quarter 2026 ratings reflected Sunday Morning Futures as the top-rated show on Sunday at 10 a.m., with 2 million viewers, including 189,000 in the 25-54 demographic. In the second quarter, the show remained the highest-rated weekend program, averaging 1.9 million viewers.
Her Fox Business morning show reached around 123,000 viewers per episode, offering less straightforward comparisons across business-news programs. Her continued popularity indicates that her departure likely wasn’t due to ratings issues.
Maria Bartiromo’s Background
Bartiromo, a seasoned financial journalist, evolved into a well-known conservative media figure. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1967, she grew up in an Italian-American family. Her father worked as a chef, while her mother was a hostess. She attended Fontbonne Hall Academy and studied journalism and economics at New York University.
She launched her television career as a producer and editor at CNN before joining CNBC in 1993, where she became a trailblazer in financial journalism. As the first journalist to report live daily from the NYSE floor, she earned the nickname “Money Honey” and won Emmy Awards for her work.
Bartiromo moved to Fox Business in 2013, expanding her focus beyond financial news to politics and national affairs. Her programs at Fox included Mornings with Maria, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, and Sunday Morning Futures, solidifying her connection to Trump’s political movement.
On a personal note, Bartiromo married Jonathan Steinberg, CEO of WisdomTree, in 1999. The couple has no children.
Bartiromo’s Relationship with Trump
Since Trump’s first term, Bartiromo has cultivated a close relationship with him, becoming one of his most supportive interviewers on TV. Her 2020 post-election interview with Trump fueled controversy as she allowed him to assert widespread election fraud without demanding proof.
This history of engagement might make an appointment in a Trump administration plausible. Her experience in television, economic insight, and ties with Trump’s political movement could translate into roles in communications, economic policy, or media relations.
Yet, Bartiromo hasn’t merely echoed the Trump administration’s narrative. She has occasionally criticized and challenged Trump officials. For instance, in March 2025, she questioned Bessent about the administration’s inconsistent tariff policy explanations.
Her skepticism was notable because it came from a pro-Trump host. Instead of directly criticizing Trump, she argued for clearer communication on the administration’s economic strategy.
Bartiromo also questioned Trump’s claims about U.S.-Iran conflict outcomes. After Trump claimed the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s military, Bartiromo publicly doubted the accuracy of these statements. This critical perspective complicates the assumption of Bartiromo taking a government position, as she’s maintained her capacity to question the administration’s policies.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Dave Siminoff.
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