Fox News Channel announced that Neil Cavuto, a veteran business journalist who has been a fixture at the network since its inception in 1996, will be departing after his Thursday show. Cavuto, known for his weekday afternoon program on Fox News Channel and his work on sister network Fox Business Network, is highly regarded for his objective reporting and is not categorized among the network’s opinion hosts.
Acknowledging Cavuto’s significant contributions to the field of journalism, Fox News Media expressed pride in his remarkable 28-year tenure with the network. They lauded Cavuto for his groundbreaking business news programs that have consistently set the industry standard. In bidding farewell to Cavuto, the network extended best wishes for his future endeavors and expressed gratitude for his journalistic excellence.
In contrast to many of his colleagues at Fox News, Cavuto notably refrained from interviewing President Donald Trump after 2017, a decision that occasionally led to disagreements between the two. Discontent arose when Cavuto declared on-air that Trump had unequivocally lost a debate with Democratic figure Kamala Harris. Moreover, Cavuto drew attention to Trump’s tendency to attribute stock market fluctuations to partisan politics, pointing out the president’s shifting narratives based on market performance.
Taking to social media, Trump reacted to Cavuto’s departure with an emphatic declaration in capital letters, characterizing the news as a positive development for America and suggesting that it should have occurred sooner. However, Fox News clarified that Trump’s displeasure with Cavuto was not a determining factor in the journalist’s decision to leave. According to a source familiar with the discussions, Cavuto’s departure was primarily driven by the conclusion of his contract, despite an offer for an extension.
Amid financial challenges in the television news industry, reports have emerged of network personalities being asked to accept pay cuts. Some, like Hoda Kotb of the “Today” show, opted to depart rather than agree to reduced compensation. Despite facing various health setbacks over the years, including multiple sclerosis, heart surgery, and lingering effects of long COVID, the dedicated 66-year-old journalist remained committed to his work at Fox News.
With Cavuto’s departure, a vacancy has emerged in the network’s coveted 4 p.m. Eastern time slot, preceding the popular program “The Five.” The search for Cavuto’s successor is currently underway, with no immediate announcement regarding a replacement.
David Bauder, a media correspondent for the Associated Press, covers developments in the industry. For more insights from Bauder, readers can follow his work at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
