Vocal Donald Trump critic Shepard Smith resigns from Fox News, with immediate effect

Chief news anchor announced resignation on air, but gave no reason for departure

Smith has often incurred the wrath of loyal Fox viewers – and Trump himself – with his sceptical reporting and commentary on the US president

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Fox News Channel chief news anchor Shepard Smith appears on the set of Shepard Smith Reporting in New York in January 2017. Photo: AP

Published: 5:58am, 12 Oct 2019Updated: 3:57am, 24 Oct 2019

Shepard Smith, one of Fox News’ leading anchors and a frequent target of US President Donald Trump, abruptly stepped down from the network on Friday, departing with little explanation after 23 years on the air.

Smith, Fox News’ chief news anchor and host of its afternoon news programme Shepard Smith Reporting, said the decision to leave was his own, but gave no further reason for his resignation.

He signed off with a brief statement, surprising even his colleagues. Fox News said Friday’s programme would be Smith’s last.

Smith has been at Fox News since its founding in 1996. He was among the first people hired by Fox News’ co-founder, the late Roger Ailes, for the network’s launch. His recent tenure, however, has been marked by conflict and criticism, not just from Trump but from within the network itself.

The internal tensions at Fox News appear to have contributed to his resignation, according to multiple people at the network and those close to Smith. Smith was also in the middle of a long-term contract, making his resignation – and Fox’s agreement to release him – highly unusual.