Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, who has regularly criticized President Trump, resigned effective immediately on Friday afternoon from his role as chief news anchor and managing editor of Fox News’ breaking news unit and anchor of “Shepard Smith Reporting.”

“Recently, I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News,” Smith said. “After requesting that I stay, they obliged. Under our agreement, I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future. … This is my last newscast here.”

WATCH:

Today brought about a little shock for us here at #FoxNews as our colleague Shepard Smith announced it would be his last broadcast. We wish him nothing but the best– View his goodbye below: pic.twitter.com/LB9DFZetBb — Bret Baier (@BretBaier) October 11, 2019

Fox News anchor Bret Baier wrote on Twitter: “I first worked with Shep on my first assignment at @FoxNews almost 23 years ago. It was a total shock today to find out he’s leaving. He anchored breaking news -fast-moving events —better than anyone. I wish him well in whatever lies ahead.”

I first worked with Shep on my first assignment at @FoxNews almost 23 years ago. It was a total shock today to find out he’s leaving. He anchored breaking news -fast-moving events —better than anyone. I wish him well in whatever lies ahead — Bret Baier (@BretBaier) October 11, 2019

Fox News Senior Correspondent Rick Leventhal wrote: “I’ve worked w/Shepard Smith 22+ years. He’s an incredible journalist & the best at breaking news. Good luck my friend. You’ll be missed.”

I’ve worked w/Shepard Smith 22+ years. He’s an incredible journalist & the best at breaking news. Good luck my friend. You’ll be missed. — RickLeventhalFoxNews (@RickLeventhal) October 11, 2019

Fox News Senior Political Analyst Brit Hume tweeted: “Shep Smith has been there from the beginning and was the most talented breaking news anchor I ever saw. Fox News Channel will not be the same without him.”

Shep Smith has been there from the beginning and was the most talented breaking news anchor I ever saw. Fox News Channel will not be the same without him. pic.twitter.com/hKgE4oWx8P — Brit Hume (@brithume) October 11, 2019

Fox News Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts tweeted: “.@ShepNewsTeam Shepard Smith just dropped a bomb. After 23 years at @FoxNews, he announced he is leaving the network. He was part of the glue that held Fox together. He is a supreme pro who made us all better.”

.@ShepNewsTeam Shepard Smith just dropped a bomb. After 23 years at @FoxNews , he announced he is leaving the network. He was part of the glue that held Fox together. He is a supreme pro who made us all better. — John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) October 11, 2019

President Trump made some brief, heavily sarcastic comments on Smith’s abrupt resignation on Friday.

“Is he leaving? Oh, that’s a shame,” Trump said, as reported by Mediaite.

“If he’s leaving, I assume he’s leaving because he had bad ratings,” Trump added. “He had the worst ratings on Fox.”

Trump closed his response with a sarcastic, “I wish Shepard Smith well.”

Fox News released the following statement about Smith’s immediate resignation:

FOX NEWS Channel’s (FNC) Shepard Smith will step down from his role as Chief News Anchor and Managing Editor of the network’s breaking news unit and Anchor of Shepard Smith Reporting, announced Jay Wallace, President & Executive Editor of FOX News Media. This afternoon’s edition of Shepard Smith Reporting was Mr. Smith’s final show, during which he addressed his decision. A series of rotating anchors will host the 3PM/ET time slot until a new dayside news program is announced. In making the announcement, Mr. Wallace said, “Shep is one of the premier newscasters of his generation and his extraordinary body of work is among the finest journalism in the industry. His integrity and outstanding reporting from the field helped put FOX News on the map and there is simply no better breaking news anchor who has the ability to transport a viewer to a place of conflict, tragedy, despair or elation through his masterful delivery. We are proud of the signature reporting and anchoring style he honed at FOX News, along with everything he accomplished here during his monumental 23-year tenure. While this day is especially difficult as his former producer, we respect his decision and are deeply grateful for his immense contributions to the entire network.” Mr. Smith added, “Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave FOX News and begin a new chapter. After requesting that I stay, they graciously obliged. The opportunities afforded this guy from small town Mississippi have been many. It’s been an honor and a privilege to report the news each day to our loyal audience in context and with perspective, without fear or favor. I’ve worked with the most talented, dedicated and focused professionals I know and I’m proud to have anchored their work each day — I will deeply miss them.” One of FNC’s original hires in 1996, Mr. Smith has covered virtually every major news story over the course of his career as both a correspondent and an anchor, playing a fundamental role in the network’s innovation of the way news is presented. As the anchor of Shepard Smith Reporting (weekdays 3-4PM/ET), Mr. Smith utilized state-of-the-art news gathering techniques enhanced with advanced technologies, as well as digital and social media, to bring viewers the latest hard news from the signature studio known as The FOX News Deck. Throughout the most recent portion of his tenure, Mr. Smith anchored numerous breaking news stories, including: the El Paso shooting; the Parkland school shooting; Hurricanes Dorian & Irma; the Las Vegas massacre; the 2016 terrorist attacks in Nice, France and Belgium; the coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015; the 2014 riots following the shooting of civilian Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, MO; and the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, among many others. Before taking the helm of the breaking news division with the advent of Shepard Smith Reporting, Mr. Smith anchored The FOX Report and Studio B, both of which ranked number one in their respective timeslots. In this role, among the stories he notably anchored were: the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013 along with the subsequent manhunt and ultimate capture of the Tsarnaev brothers; the financial crisis of 2008; the War in Iraq (2003); the War in Afghanistan (2001), as well as the murderous terrorist attacks and devastating aftermath of 9/11. Additionally, Mr. Smith has traveled to Ukraine to report on the unrest in Kiev and Crimea, and reported live from Rome during the election of Pope Francis, as well as on the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2011, he was on location from Japan following the destructive earthquake and tsunami amid nuclear threats. During that same year, he provided significant news coverage of the anti-government protests and civil unrest in Egypt and Libya. Mr. Smith also reported extensively on the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forces from Beirut, Lebanon in 2006. Prior to joining FNC, Mr. Smith was a Los Angeles-based FOX News Edge correspondent, reporting on a wide range of stories for the FOX affiliate news service, including the crash of TWA Flight 800, the Montana Freeman standoff, and the Oklahoma City bombing. Before this, he gained extensive local news experience throughout the state of Florida serving as a reporter for WSVN-TV (FOX) in Miami, the former WCPX-TV (CBS) in Orlando, WBBH-TV (NBC) in Fort Myers, FL and WJHG-TV (NBC) in Panama City, FL where he began his television career. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC is a unit of FOX News Media and has been the most watched television news channel for more than 17 consecutive years. According to a 2019 Suffolk University poll, FOX News is the most trusted source for television news or commentary in the country, while a 2019 Brand Keys Emotion Engagement Brand Analysis survey found that FOX News was the most trusted cable news brand. Owned by FOX Corporation, FNC is available in nearly 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

This article has been revised for clarity and updated to include Trumps’ response.