Lou Dobbs, a veteran business news anchor and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, passed away on Thursday at the age of 78.
A statement on his official social media account described him as a “fighter till the very end” and announced his death with a heavy heart.
Dobbs had a long career in broadcast journalism, spending over two decades at CNN, which he joined at its inception in 1980, anchoring the program “Moneyline.” He left CNN in 2009 to assist Rupert Murdoch in launching the Fox Business Network.
Dobbs became one of Trump’s most ardent supporters as Trump rose in Republican politics, using his program to push anti-immigrant rhetoric and attack the so-called “deep state.” In return, Trump often praised Dobbs, calling him a friend and an “incredible journalist, reporter, and talent.”
After the 2020 election, Dobbs promoted false conspiracy theories on his Fox Business program, alleging the vote had been rigged. These comments led to defamation lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic against Fox News. Fox settled with Dominion for over $787 million, but Smartmatic’s lawsuit, which also named Dobbs, is still ongoing.
Following the lawsuits, Fox Business canceled Dobbs’ show in February 2021. Dobbs’ lawyers have previously denied allegations of a disinformation campaign, stating he engaged in opinion commentary on public interest issues, protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Fox News Media expressed deep sadness at Dobbs’ passing, highlighting his contributions to the cable news industry and offering condolences to his family.
