NEW YORK, United States — Former Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo has made a public appearance at an event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump, nearly three weeks after the television network announced that it had parted ways with the veteran journalist.
Bartiromo attended the inaugural IMPERIA Summit at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, where Melania Trump launched an initiative bringing together female business executives, entrepreneurs, and other industry leaders.
The Independent reported her attendance, describing the gathering as her first public appearance since Fox announced her departure.
Conservative television personality Stella Escobedo also shared footage of Bartiromo at the event, showing the former anchor greeting attendees and posing for photographs.
The appearance came amid continuing questions about the circumstances of Bartiromo’s departure from Fox and reports of her subsequent visits to the White House.
🚨 NYC Stock Exchange 🚨
So many powerful women here for @FLOTUS’s IMPERIA Summit, including @MariaBartiromo . pic.twitter.com/dQUq2pEqNA
— Stella Escobedo (@StellaEscoTV) September 23, 2026
Bartiromo Appears at Melania Trump’s Business Summit
Melania Trump opened the New York Stock Exchange to mark the launch of IMPERIA, an initiative intended to promote women’s participation and leadership in the global economy.
The invitation-only gathering took place alongside the United Nations General Assembly and brought together business executives and other prominent figures.
According to a statement from the New York Stock Exchange, the summit was organised to facilitate discussions among women business leaders.
The programme included conversations with corporate executives, while the first lady delivered remarks about women’s economic influence and opportunities for future generations.
Bartiromo, who spent much of her journalism career covering financial markets, was among those attending the event.
Her appearance came shortly after reports that she had also been seen at the White House.
New York radio host Sid Rosenberg said during a broadcast on 77 WABC that he had encountered Bartiromo leaving a room near the offices of President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance during a recent visit.
Rosenberg did not establish why Bartiromo was at the White House, and there has been no official announcement that she has accepted a position in the Trump administration.
Fox News Departure Remains Disputed
Fox News Media announced Bartiromo’s departure earlier this month, ending her on-air role after more than 12 years with the company.
The network did not publicly disclose the reason for the decision.
Bartiromo had hosted three programmes across Fox News and Fox Business: Mornings with Maria, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, and Sunday Morning Futures.
Following the announcement, Fox Business removed her name from its morning and weekly financial programmes and introduced replacement presenters.
The network also assigned former congressman Jason Chaffetz to host Sunday Morning Futures temporarily.
Reports about the circumstances of Bartiromo’s departure subsequently became the subject of a disagreement between Fox and the journalist’s legal representatives.
Media reports alleged that Bartiromo had disclosed internal Fox guidance concerning coverage of Trump’s claims about the 2020 presidential election to members of his administration.
According to those reports, Fox management regarded the disclosure as a violation of company rules.
Bartiromo’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, disputed accounts that she had been fired and challenged the allegations concerning the circumstances of her departure.
Fox maintained that its announcement about ending its relationship with the anchor spoke for itself.
Trump Defends Former Fox Anchor
Trump publicly expressed disappointment following the announcement of Bartiromo’s departure.
In a post on Truth Social, the president described her as a professional journalist and praised her work.
Bartiromo had frequently interviewed Trump during her years at Fox, including on her Sunday programme, where she covered his administration and political activities.
Before joining Fox in 2013, she spent two decades at CNBC, establishing herself as a prominent financial journalist and becoming the first woman to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Her appearance at Melania Trump’s summit brought her back to the financial institution where she had established much of her early television career.
Bartiromo has not publicly announced a new broadcasting role or confirmed that she intends to join the Trump administration.
