Hugh Hewitt Leaves The Washington Post Columnist Position

Hugh Hewitt, a longtime columnist for the Washington Post, announced his resignation on Friday, as reported by Fox News Digital. The conservative commentator and nationally syndicated radio host had been a contributing columnist for the Post since 2017, during which he penned hundreds of articles.

“I have in fact quit the Post, but I was only writing a column for them every six weeks or so,” Hewitt explained, noting that he had recently offered to write another pro-Trump column ahead of the upcoming election. He officially informed editorial page editor David Shipley of his decision on Friday morning.

His most recent piece was published just days prior, in which he urged the MAGA movement to adapt if Trump is re-elected. As a rare pro-Trump voice in a publication whose opinion section leans significantly left, Hewitt’s columns covered a wide array of topics.

Hewitt’s resignation followed a viral incident earlier that day when he walked off the Washington Post’s online show, “First Look,” during a discussion with liberal columnists Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus about Trump’s rhetoric regarding election integrity. The exchange escalated when Capehart interrupted Hewitt as he attempted to respond to Marcus’s claims about Trump’s intentions surrounding the election.

“We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story,” Hewitt asserted during the debate, referencing a court ruling that favored the Republican National Committee in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Capehart responded with skepticism, stating, “I don’t appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, many times, you’ve come here saying lots of things that aren’t based in fact.” Frustrated, Hewitt stood up and declared, “I won’t come back, Jonathan. I’m done. This is the most unfair election ad I’ve ever been a part of,” before leaving the set, leaving Capehart and Marcus to continue the discussion without him.

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Following Hewitt’s departure, a Washington Post spokesperson did not address his exit directly but acknowledged the dynamic nature of their live journalism platform, which includes programs like “Washington Post Live.”

Hewitt’s resignation comes amid significant upheaval at the Post, particularly following the decision not to endorse a candidate for president this election cycle at the direction of owner Jeff Bezos. This move has provoked backlash among staff and readers alike, resulting in resignations and a wave of canceled subscriptions. Bezos has also called for an increase in conservative opinion writers, making Hewitt’s departure a setback in that initiative.

Despite not being a regular columnist, Hewitt contributed only seven articles to the Post in 2024, a stark decrease from the 48 pieces he wrote in 2023. David Rutz, a senior editor at Fox News, reported on the situation, and you can follow him on Twitter at @davidrutz.

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