Trump mocks Fox News anchor Shepard Smith after he announces his resignation: 'Is he leaving because of bad ratings?'
Donald Trump seemingly mocked Fox News anchor Shepard Smith after the 55-year-old, who has remained one of the few outspoken critics of the president at the network, announced he was resigning from his position this past week effective immediately.
Speaking outside the White House before he embarked for a rally in Louisiana, Trump said sarcastically, "Is he leaving? Oh, that's a shame. Is he leaving because of bad ratings? Is he leaving because of me?"
"He had terrible ratings," he continued. "Is he leaving 'cause of his ratings? I mean, if he's leaving, I assume he's leaving because he had bad ratings. He had the worst ratings on Fox."
Smith, a midday anchor, had been with the network since its inception in 1996, and contrary to Trump's claims, did not have bad ratings. Nielsen Media Research stated that his show, Shepard Smith Reporting, averaged 1.3 million total viewers and nearly 200,000 in the demo, which is significantly higher than the competition for the same time slot. The 55-year-old had signed a multiyear contract just 18 months ago suddenly announced he was stepping down from his role as the chief news anchor and managing editor of the network's breaking news unit and anchor of Shepard Smith Reporting on October 11, citing family reasons.
"Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave FOX News and begin a new chapter," he said on what was the last ever segment of Shepard Smith Reporting. "After requesting that I stay, they graciously obliged."
"The opportunities afforded this guy from small-town Mississippi have been many. It's been an honor and a privilege to report the news each day to our loyal audience in context and with perspective, without fear or favor. I've worked with the most talented, dedicated and focused professionals I know and I'm proud to have anchored their work each day -- I will deeply miss them."
"Under our agreement, I won't be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future, but I will be able to see more of [my partner] Gio and [our dog] Lucia and our friends and family and then we will see what comes along," he continued. "This is my last newscast here. Thank you for watching today and over the decades. It's been an honor and my pleasure."
The news came as a shock, even to those at the network, with Neil Cavuto, who follows him in the 4 pm hour, expressing how the anchor had been an important part of the Fox News team for close to three decades.
Both the network, as well as publicists for Smith, said the decision to exit Fox news was one that was taken by the 55-year-old alone. However, doubts have been cast on that assertion by reports which state that his exit followed almost immediately after Rupert Murdoch, the owner of the network, met with Attorney General William Barr. When asked about the coincidence, Trump seemed to claim he didn't even know Smith was leaving before going on to theorize that it was because of his "bad ratings" and that he had "the worst ratings on Fox."