Lou Dobbs, a longtime conservative political commentator who anchored shows on CNN and Fox Business, died Thursday at 78, his family announced on social media.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of ‘The Great Lou Dobbs,'” his family said 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 Debi, children and grandchildren.”
Dobbs was a journalist for five decades, becoming well-known for his business-news coverage and winning numerous awards, including a Peabody Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock-market crash and a lifetime-achievement Emmy award in 2005.
Staunchly opposed to illegal immigration, Dobbs embraced populist views and argued many times for more robust border security. In his later years, Dobbs strongly supported former president Donald Trump, who mourned Dobbs’s death on Truth Social.
“The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away — 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!” Trump said.
Born in Texas, Dobbs graduated from Harvard and became a reporter in Arizona, eventually catching the eye of CNN founder Ted Turner.
A pioneer in cable-TV journalism, Dobbs joined CNN at its inception and spent two decades at the network hosting CNN Moneyline, its business-news show, until he left the network in 1999 over disagreements with management. He rejoined CNN in 2001 to host a news program and became increasingly populist upon his return to the network.
After nearly three decades at CNN, Dobbs left the network in 2009 when he began to entertain conspiracy theories about then-president Barack Obama being born outside the United States.
In 2011, Dobbs joined Fox Business and consistently achieved high ratings at the network. He spent a decade at Fox until voting-machine company Smartmatic named him in a defamation lawsuit for peddling false claims that the company was part of a conspiracy to rig the 2020 election against Trump. Dobbs was also named in Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News that the network eventually paid $787.5 million to settle.
“We are 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. We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family,” Fox News said in a statement provided to NR.
Dobbs hosted a podcast after leaving Fox News that he was absent from during the weeks leading up to his death.