Fox News Media confirmed Thursday that it has ended its relationship with anchor Maria Bartiromo, describing the move as a “business decision.” The departure concludes a tenure in which Bartiromo transitioned from Wall Street coverage to prominent political punditry, a shift that coincided with fading viewership and escalating legal liabilities for the network.
Bartiromo has not appeared on air since August 9. Her attorney, Bryan Freedman, strongly denied reports that she was fired. “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,” Freedman said, adding that the network had provided her with confidential directives intended for the White House, which he characterized as a breach of protocol by the company.
According to reports, Bartiromo shared an executive producer directive with the White House that cautioned Fox Business Network staff against endorsing extraordinary claims made by President Donald Trump. Disclosure of such internal communications is generally considered a violation of employment terms.
The split follows a period of increasing financial strain on Bartiromo’s programs. Data from Nielsen indicates that her flagship Fox Business show, “Mornings With Maria,” has consistently trailed CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” particularly among the coveted 25-to-54 demographic. In the third quarter of 2026, “Mornings With Maria” drew only 5,000 viewers in that age group, compared to 24,000 for the CNBC competitor. Broader audience metrics also showed a decline, with “Squawk Box” averaging 140,000 viewers in the second quarter against 123,000 for Bartiromo’s program.
Advertising revenue has mirrored these ratings drops. Tracking firm iSpot reported that ad sales for her Fox Business shows fell to $3.7 million in 2025, a nearly 58% decrease from $8.9 million in 2022. Similarly, advertising for her Fox News Sunday program, “Sunday Morning Futures,” declined by roughly 22% over the same period.
Bartiromo’s involvement in political controversies has previously incurred significant costs for Fox. She was named in the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which Fox settled for $787.5 million. She remains a defendant in a separate suit brought by Smartmatic, another voting technology company, regarding allegations that false claims on Fox influenced the 2020 election outcome.
President Trump publicly criticized the network’s decision on Truth Social, calling Bartiromo a “true warrior” and predicting backlash from her fans. However, industry analysts suggest the move aligns with broader trends affecting traditional cable. Kagan, an S&P Global Intelligence unit, projects that Fox Business Network distribution revenue will dip to $289 million by 2027, while subscriber numbers continue to erode.
Bartiromo originally joined Fox over a decade ago, recruited by former chief Roger Ailes to deepen business news coverage beyond stock quotes. Despite early success, her increasing focus on opinion and politics appears to have alienated the core business audience she was hired to serve, ultimately leading to her exit.
Finally, the numbers don’t lie. Shifting from business to politics alienated her core audience and killed ad revenue.
Is this really just a business decision, or is Fox trying to distance itself from mounting legal liabilities?
Wow, a 58% drop in ad sales? That’s a steep fall for someone who was once a top earner at the network.
It’s sad but predictable. Viewers tuned in for stock updates, not opinion pieces. The market corrected itself.