After a dozen years with Fox News, Megyn Kelly is leaving to join NBC with plans for a daytime talk show and Sunday evening news show.
Kelly was a key asset in the Fox News prime-time line-up. The network offered her more than $20 million to stay on, according to The New York Times, but NBC got her at an undisclosed salary. She is Fox News’ second most-watched TV host, after Bill O’Reilly.
Kelly will anchor her last episode of “The Kelly File” on Friday.
Here are seven of Kelly’s most memorable on-air moments at Fox News:
1. Confronting Donald Trump — “You’ve called women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals,” she said to Trump in 2015 during the first Republican debate for the presidency, according to Vanity Fair. Trump claimed that he did not “have time for total political correctness” and later tweeted his criticism of Kelly’s treatment of him, saying she and the other moderators were “not very good or professional,” BBC reported.
2. Challenging GOP heavy hitters — When Barack Obama successfully won re-election in 2012 against GOP nominee Mitt Romney, Kelly questioned Karl Rove when the Republican political consultant refused to accept Obama’s victory, Today.com noted. “Is this just math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better, or is this real?” she asked.
3. Defending maternity leave — Kelley stunned radio talk-show host Mike Gallagher in 2011 for labeling her three-month maternity leave “a racket.” She told Gallagher that the U.S. is the only advanced country in the world to not require paid maternity leave. “And what is it about getting pregnant and carrying a baby for nine months that you don’t think deserves a few months off so bonding and recovery can take place?” she said on “America Live.”
4. Standing up to Newt Gingrich — The former Speaker of the House was outraged over the media focusing on Trump’s alleged sexual advances toward women. “You are fascinated with sex, and you don’t care about public policy,” Gingrich told her. “I’m not fascinated by sex,” Kelly retorted, “but I am fascinated by the protection of women and understanding what we’re getting in the Oval Office.”
5. Describing Santa Claus — Kelly was attacked in 2013 after she disagreed with diversity in the portrayal of Santa Claus, The Wrap reported. “For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white,” she said.
6. Debating controversial issues — Following the shooting death of Philando Castile in Minnesota and other shootings of black men by police officers in 2016, Kelley got into a heated exchange about race and the protests with actor and author D.L. Hughley.
7. Clarifying Obama’s background — Kelly called questions about Obama’s alleged Muslim background “objectively ugly.” The question had been put to rest in the 2008 presidential campaign, she said. “The president has said repeatedly that he is a Christian, that he is not a Muslim,” she said during a panel discussion.
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