Lou Dobbs Dead At 78

Former Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, an anti-immigration hard-liner and promoter of conservative conspiracy theories, has died. He was 78.

Former President Donald Trump was the first to reveal the news, posting a tribute to his ally on social media.

“The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away — A friend, and truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social . “He understood the World, and what was ‘happening,’ better than others.”

“Lou was unique in so many ways, and loved our Country,” Trump continued. “Our warmest condolences to his wonderful wife, Debi, and family. He will be greatly missed!”

Fox News Media confirmed the news, saying in a statement: “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.”

Dobbs was a staunch Trump supporter known for his extreme anti-immigration views, often using his platform to rage against what he called the “invasion of illegal aliens.” He reportedly advised Trump on his border policy when he was in the White house.

Dobbs hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” from 2011 to 2021. Once the network’s most watched show, it was canceled by Fox Business a day after Dobbs was named in a lawsuit that accused him and other Fox hosts of promoting conspiracy theories about voting machines being rigged in the 2020 election.

Before joining Fox, Dobbs worked at CNN. His tenure ended there when he began pushing the conspiracy theory that then-President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States.

“Lou was one of the CNN originals, who helped launch and shape the network,” a CNN spokesperson said following the news of his death. “We are saddened to hear about his passing and extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Debi, children and his family.”

Dobbs leaned into his fringe, far-right appeal after Fox fired him. Earlier this year, he launched a show ― also called “Lou Dobbs Tonight” ― on  FrankSpeech.com, a site run by My Pillow founder Mike Lindell.

“We’re still talking about a rigged election, a stolen election, just as we were three years ago,” Dobbs said in one of his first episodes.

Dobbs also made an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March, where he accused President Joe Biden of overseeing a “police surveillance state” with spy balloons.