Veteran Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto is leaving the network after 28 years, marking the departure 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 inception in 1996. Fox News released a statement praising Cavuto’s “illustrious career” and his contribution to business news.
Cavuto hosted three shows across Fox News and Fox Business Network, totaling 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 signifies a shift in the network’s landscape, where pro-Trump sentiment has become increasingly dominant.
Cavuto distinguished himself by frequently criticizing and fact-checking Trump’s statements on various topics, including Covid-19 treatments, trade tariffs, and hurricane-related misinformation. This often put him at odds with the former president and his supporters.
Trump frequently targeted Cavuto with personal attacks, often via social media. In 2020, Trump retweeted posts calling 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 took to 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 encapsulates Cavuto’s commitment to journalistic integrity, even in the face of immense pressure.
