Trump mocks retiring Fox News host Neil Cavuto in parting jab, calls him 'lowest-rated anchor' on network

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Donald Trump wasted no time in celebrating the exit of longtime Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto as he took a jab at him on Truth Social.

"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 Truth Social.

Cavuto, a Fox News veteran who had been with the network since it launched in 1996, broke the news of his departure on his afternoon show, 'Your World.'

While he admitted this was a decision he had been mulling over for a while, Cavuto made it clear he wasn’t stepping away from journalism altogether. "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," he said.

For years, Cavuto stood out at Fox as one of the few anchors who went out of his way to push back against Trump. He often called out the former president over issues like his Covid-19 policies and spreading misinformation about hurricanes.

Predictably, this didn’t sit well with Trump, who frequently targeted Cavuto and called him "one of the WORST on Television." He even suggested he would rather tune in to rivals like CNN or MSNBC. Cavuto famously shot back saying, "I don’t work for you. My job is to cover you, not fawn over you or rip you, just cover you."

Reactions to Neil Cavuto's departure

Reactions to Neil Cavuto’s departure were split right down the middle as Donald Trump's loyalists were over the moon.

"Great news. His smugness and anti-Trump statements were repulsive," one posted on X.

"YEAH!!!! I can’t stand him!! Any time anyone says anything nice about President Trump, he can’t stand it, and it’s sooo obvious! He needs to go!" another wrote.

"Yes. I used to watch his show until it became obvious that he could not make a balanced observation. Reason why I also stopped watching Fox & Friends Weekend," someone else offered.

"I purposely changed the channel every time his show came on just to hurt his ratings little by little. I take full credit for this," read a comment.

"Where will he find a new podium to share with the world how much he hates President Donald Trump?" another wondered.

But not everyone was celebrating. Cavuto’s fans — including some of his colleagues who admired his no-nonsense approach — were quick to praise him.

Bob Cusack, editor-in-chief of The Hill, showed his appreciation during Cavuto’s final broadcast. "I’ve always appreciated you. You call balls and strikes. You’re not a ‘yes-man.’ It’s an honor to be on [the] show," Cusack said.

Former Fox News anchor Geraldo Rivera also chimed in on X, writing, "Bravo Neil Cavuto on three 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."

Neil Cavuto’s legacy at Fox News

Over nearly 30 years, Neil Cavuto became a cornerstone at Fox News, juggling a staggering 12 hours of programming each week between Fox News and Fox Business. But, his animosity towards the Trump administration alienated a chunk of the network’s audience.

A prime example came in 2020 when Cavuto deliberately cut away from a press conference by then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany when she started discussing voter fraud claims. That decision, of course, infuriated Trump supporters.

Cavuto prided himself in prioritizing facts over fanfare as a business journalist, particularly when misinformation threatened to sway financial markets. Still, his controversial takes didn’t come without costs.

According to insiders, Cavuto declined a contract extension at Fox because it came with a pay cut. While he didn’t dive into details about his next move, his farewell made it clear that he is not done with journalism just yet.

It is worth noting that Cavuto has also displayed incredible resilience. Over the years, he battled multiple sclerosis, underwent open-heart surgery, and even spent weeks in the hospital with a severe case of Covid-19, CNN reported.

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