This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
October 12, 2019, marked a significant departure for Fox News as Shep Smith, the network's chief news anchor, announced his abrupt exit after 23 years. Smith's decision left his colleagues stunned, with some expressing shock and heartbreak.
Smith joined Fox News in 1996 as a correspondent and rose to become one of its most visible journalists. His reporting on the White House, particularly under President Trump, has been a stark contrast to the network's prime-time and morning-show commentators, who often display a more favorable view of the administration.
Smith's reporting has frustrated Trump, who has publicly criticized him on Twitter. In a recent tweet, Trump cited Smith by name, along with former Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, in a post arguing that Fox News had become
