Veteran Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto is departing the network after 28 years, marking the exit of one of the few remaining personalities who openly challenged Donald Trump. Cavuto’s final appearance will be Thursday on “Your World,” the afternoon program he has hosted since the network’s launch in 1996. Fox News released a statement commending Cavuto’s “illustrious career” and his contributions to business news.
Cavuto hosted three shows across Fox News and Fox Business Network, totalling 12 hours of weekly programming. He served as senior vice president of Fox Business Network, anchoring “Your World,” “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” and the weekend show “Cavuto Live.” His departure signals a shift in the network’s landscape, where pro-Trump sentiment has become increasingly prevalent.
Cavuto differentiated himself by frequently criticizing and fact-checking Trump’s statements on various issues, including COVID-19 treatments, trade tariffs, and hurricane-related misinformation. This often placed him in conflict with the former president and his supporters.
Trump frequently targeted Cavuto with personal attacks, often via social media. In 2020, Trump retweeted posts labelling Cavuto “stupid” and “foolish” after the anchor questioned Trump’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.
Trump’s criticism of Cavuto extended to public rallies and online platforms. He reportedly spent 20 minutes at a 2020 campaign rally criticizing a Cavuto segment, calling his show a “loser show” and claiming that “nobody likes him.” More recently, Trump used Truth Social to label Cavuto as “Fox’s Lowest Rated Anchor” and one of the “WORST on Television.” He even stated that he preferred anchors at CNN and MSNBC.
Cavuto maintained that his role was to provide objective coverage of the president, not to blindly support or attack him. He famously responded to one of Trump’s tirades by saying, “I don’t work for you. My job is to cover you, not fawn over you or rip you, just cover you.” This statement embodies Cavuto’s commitment to journalistic integrity, even when facing immense pressure.