Lou Dobbs, a veteran broadcast journalist and prominent conservative voice, passed away on Thursday at the age of 78. Dobbs' career in journalism spanned five decades, making him one of the most recognizable business journalists in the United States. He was known for his work on CNN, where he anchored "Moneyline," and later for his vocal support of Donald Trump and his conservative commentary on Fox Business Network.
Dobbs received several prestigious awards during his career, including a Peabody Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock market crash and a lifetime achievement Emmy in 2005. However, in his later years, Dobbs' embrace of populist and conspiratorial ideas garnered criticism from mainstream journalists.
A post on Dobbs' social media profiles announced his passing, highlighting his dedication to his beliefs, family, and country. Former President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Dobbs on his social media platform, Truth Social, praising him as a unique and incredible journalist who understood global events.
Dobbs, a Texas native and Harvard University graduate, began his career as a local news reporter in Arizona before joining CNN, where he became a central figure in the network's business news coverage. His political views evolved over time, leading to his departure from CNN in 1999 and his subsequent return in 2001. Dobbs left CNN again in 2009 after promoting the unfounded theory that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S.
After leaving CNN, Dobbs hosted a radio show and joined Fox Business Network in 2010, where he remained until 2021. His tenure at Fox ended shortly after he was named in a lawsuit alleging false claims about the 2020 election. Despite these controversies, Dobbs continued to host a show on FrankSpeech.com, a website run by election conspiracy activist Mike Lindell.
Lou Dobbs is survived by his wife Debi, his children, and grandchildren.