As usual, anything Donald Trump touches eventually becomes a test of institutional loyalty. This time the institution being tested is Fox News, and the latest casualty is Maria Bartiromo, one of the highest-paid and most recognizable faces in conservative media, a woman who built a trailblazing career on expertise and access before allowing herself to become one of Trump’s most reliable amplifiers.
Fox News announced Thursday that Bartiromo was no longer with the company, effective immediately, after more than 12 years at the network. The official explanation was strikingly terse. Fox thanked her for her service and wished her well in her “next chapter.” The company later characterized the departure as a “business decision,” but declined to explain what business consideration prompted such a sudden termination.
