Lou Dobbs, the veteran broadcaster and conservative commentator, has died. He was 78.
Dobbs’ death was confirmed Thursday with posts on his social media accounts.
“Lou was a fighter till the very end — fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country. Lou’s legacy will forever live on as a patriot and a great American. We ask for your prayers for Lou’s wonderful wife Deb, children and grandchildren.”
Dobbs hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” which premiered on CNN as “Moneyline” at the inception of the cabler in 1980 and was relaunched at Fox Business Network beginning in 2011.
His death was first announced on Truth Social by former President Trump.
“The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away,” Trump said Thursday. “A friend, and truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent. He understood the World, and what was ‘happening,’ better than others. Lou was unique in so many ways, and loved our Country. Our warmest condolences to his wonderful wife, Debi, and family. He will be greatly missed!”
In a Thursday statement to The Times, Fox News Media said it was “deeply saddened by the passing of Lou Dobbs.”
“An incredible business mind with a gift for broadcasting, Lou helped pioneer cable news into a successful and influential industry,” the statement said. “We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
No details about Dobbs’ cause of death were made immediately available, and a spokesperson for Dobbs did not respond Thursday to The Times’ requests for comment.
Dobbs became a household name when he appeared on CNN when it launched in 1980. He abruptly quit on air in 2009 and became a mainstay on the Fox Business Network.
Former Fox Chief Executive Roger Ailes signed the news anchor to the cable network in 2011. Dobbs was the company’s most outspoken supporter of Trump’s economic and immigration policies. In the weeks after the 2020 election, he also expressed anger on his program that the Republican Party did not do more to act on the former president’s claims that the election was rigged in favor of President Biden.
In 2021, Fox News Media canceled his long-running Fox Business news show, “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” over his allegations of voter fraud.
Dobbs’ show was axed a month after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, when Fox News’ coverage of Trump’s “stolen election” claims was facing intense scrutiny. Critics have long contended that Fox legitimized the election lies.
Lawsuits, including one brought by Dominion Voting Systems, alleged that Dobbs’ Fox Business Network program had given Trump boosters, including lawyer Sidney Powell, a megaphone to spread phony election fraud claims that undermined the public’s trust in the election.
Dobbs’ show was shelved almost immediately after another voting software company, Smartmatic, filed a $2.7-billion defamation suit against Fox, Dobbs and hosts Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro. That case is still pending.
Smartmatic and Dominion separately alleged the hosts perpetuated lies and disinformation about their voting machines, despite the fact that Fox executives and on-air talent recognized that such theories were bogus. Fox has settled at least two cases that took aim at its voter fraud coverage, including agreeing last year to pay $787 million to Dominion.
Dobbs was not fired outright. Instead, the network kept him on the payroll. But without a regular platform his influence soon waned.
Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.