Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to President Trump, said the White House directly confronted Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott over the network's decision to part ways with anchor Maria Bartiromo last week. During a Tuesday appearance on Newsmax, Navarro characterized the ouster as a move that drew immediate backlash from the administration.
“But suffice it to say that Suzanne Scott got a call, and basically the White House let her know that that kind of thing is totally unacceptable,” Navarro said, referring to the Fox News chief executive. He added that Scott “just went out and fired Maria Bartiromo,” and that “that place is out of control.”
Bartiromo, one of the network's most prominent financial news personalities and a vocal supporter of the president's economic and trade policies, was abruptly let go last week. Fox offered few details at the time, merely thanking her for “her work over the last 12 1/2 years” and wishing her “all the best on her next chapter.”
Navarro suggested that the ouster reflects a broader anti-Trump sentiment among some Fox producers and reporters, even as the network features a number of hosts who are openly supportive of the president and regularly air his speeches and rallies. “When you craft your segments for like the equivalent of Greg Kelly every day, whatever the show is, it’s like, you don’t do these MAGA issues, you don’t do pro-Trump stuff,” he said.
Bartiromo was among the president's most steadfast supporters on Fox, routinely championing his tariffs and economic agenda. Her departure drew a sharp reaction from Trump, who posted on Truth Social that he “can’t believe” she was no longer at the network, adding that “her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy.”
The White House's intervention underscores the close—and sometimes contentious—relationship between the administration and the cable news powerhouse. It also comes as Trump continues to escalate trade disputes, including recent moves against Canadian dairy and other goods, which have created political headaches for some GOP Senate candidates. The president has also been vocal in his criticism of media coverage, often singling out outlets he views as insufficiently supportive.
Fox News has not publicly responded to Navarro's comments. The network's decision to part ways with Bartiromo, a veteran anchor who had been with the company for more than a decade, remains shrouded in some mystery, though reports suggest she shared internal editorial directives with White House officials prior to her exit.
Navarro's remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny on Fox's editorial direction as the midterm elections approach, with Trump and his allies increasingly using media criticism as a rallying point. The president's recent appearances, including a rally in Dallas, have featured attacks on the press and calls for loyalty from conservative media figures.
As the situation develops, it remains unclear whether the White House's pressure will have any effect on Fox's programming decisions. But the episode highlights the delicate balance the network must strike between its journalistic independence and the political expectations of its most influential viewers.
