Fox News Media has abruptly parted ways with anchor Maria Bartiromo, one of Donald Trump's favoured broadcasters, with the split described as "effective today". Fox thanked her for 12½ years of work but gave no reason for the departure, and sources say it is unrelated to any move to a rival network or a White House role, despite speculation she could become Trump's press secretary. The exit is notable given its timing, coinciding with the first White House press briefing since Karoline Leavitt's departure from that post.

Bartiromo, nicknamed the "Money Honey" for her Wall Street reporting, had not appeared on air since 9 August. Her morning show will be renamed "Morning with Fox Business" and run with rotating hosts, while her Fox News programme "Sunday Morning Futures" will be temporarily fronted by Jason Chaffetz before a permanent replacement is named. She joined Fox in 2014 after two decades at CNBC and had become known in recent years for her outspoken support of Trump.