Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt resigned Friday from his columnist position at The Washington Post, he confirmed to Fox News, after walking out on a live interview on the paper’s video platform — the latest blow to the Post after facing widespread blowback over halting presidential endorsements.
Hewitt stormed out during a live broadcast of the Post’s show “First Look” during a discussion Friday morning about former President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to potentially contest the election, leaving host Jonathan Capehart and fellow guest Ruth Marcus stunned.
“We are newspeople, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story,” Hewitt said during a heated exchange over a GOP Pennsylvania voting lawsuit he reminded viewers “was successful.”
“I don’t appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, many times you come here saying lots of things that aren’t based in fact,” Capehart replied.
“I won’t come back, Jonathan, I’m done,” Hewitt shot back, removing his ear piece and walking off screen. “This is the most unfair election ad I have ever been a part of.”
Visibly shocked, Capehart directed a question at Marcus, whose video call promptly froze. The broadcast ended shortly after.
Hewitt, who did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment, confirmed his resignation to Fox News.
A Post spokesperson didn’t directly address Hewitt’s departure, but said in a statement to POLITICO that “As the newsroom’s live journalism platform, Washington Post Live is known for its dynamic conversations and thought-provoking perspectives on top issues of the day, such as this morning's "First Look" program.”
Hewitt, a former Reagan administration official turned conservative pundit, had worked as a contributing columnist at the Post since 2017. He has clashed with Trump before his first presidential run but has since become a supporter, with the former president frequently giving interviews on Hewitt’s radio show.
It’s not the Post’s first public resignation this election cycle: Three members stepped down from their positions on the paper’s editorial board after the announcement last week that Post would no longer issue endorsements in presidential races. Conservatives have long derided the Post’s left-leaning opinion team and on Friday used Hewitt’s exchange to sink their teeth into the publication.
“Factual, sober, brave and appropriately FED UP with these left-wing hacks posing as journalists,” conservative pundit Megyn Kelly wrote of Hewitt on X.
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