Longtime Prime Fox News Host Critical Of Trump GONE
After nearly three decades on the air, veteran Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto, one of the network’s longest-serving personalities and a frequent critic of President-elect Donald Trump, has announced his departure from the network.
Cavuto shared the news during his afternoon show “Your World” on Thursday, explaining that while he had been considering this decision for “some time,” he is “not leaving journalism.” Instead, he said, “I’m simply going to leave now.”
“I got to do what I love to do, report the news. Not shout the news, not blast the news. Not call names, just call balls and strikes, following the news, hold truth to power and fairness to all. That’s it, that’s me,” Cavuto stated.
Cavuto joined Fox News in 1996 when the network was first launched, transitioning from CNBC to Rupert Murdoch’s then-fledgling right-wing outlet. Until his departure, he hosted approximately 12 hours of programming weekly on both Fox News and Fox Business.
While Cavuto revealed that Fox had “offered a very generous opportunity for me to stay years more,” a source familiar with the situation indicated that he declined the contract extension, which included a reduced salary.
In recent years, Cavuto had set himself apart as one of the few Fox News anchors willing to rigorously fact-check and criticize Trump. He viewed his role as a business news anchor as a duty to distinguish fact from fiction, especially when financial stakes were involved.
However, this commitment to truth came at a cost. Cavuto’s focus on facts, rather than aligning with the desires of Trump supporters, alienated some viewers. For instance, after he interrupted then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany during a 2020 press conference to halt the spread of baseless voter fraud claims, some Trump loyalists never forgave him.
Trump reacted to Cavuto’s departure on Thursday, echoing sentiments shared by several Fox viewers.
“GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICA! Neil Cavuto, the Lowest Rated Anchor on Fox, by far, is leaving – Should have happened a long time ago!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Others, however, commended Cavuto for his decades of work.
“I’ve always appreciated you. You call balls and strikes. You’re not a ‘yes-man.’ It’s an honor to be on your show,” said The Hill editor-in-chief Bob Cusack.
Former Fox News anchor Geraldo Rivera praised Cavuto on X, writing, “Bravo Neil Cavuto on 3 great decades at Fox News. Fair and balanced for real, Neil never chickened out. Even in the Time of Trump, when it would have been easy, he was a truth teller. He angered the ideologues but never backed down.”
Cavuto also expressed gratitude to Fox News for supporting him through significant health challenges, including open-heart surgery, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and a severe bout with COVID-19 that left him hospitalized for weeks.
Reflecting on his time at Fox, Cavuto said, “I leave with profound gratitude for the incredible colleagues and experiences that shaped my career. This isn’t goodbye to the profession, just to this chapter.”