Fox News confirmed Thursday afternoon beloved conservative pundit and bestselling author Charles Krauthammer has died. He was 68.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Llorente broke the news for the center-right news giant:
His death had been expected after he wrote a heartbreaking letter to colleagues, friends and viewers on June 8 that said in part “I have been uncharacteristically silent these past ten months. I had thought that silence would soon be coming to an end, but I’m afraid I must tell you now that fate has decided on a different course for me…
“Recent tests have revealed that the cancer has returned. There was no sign of it as recently as a month ago, which means it is aggressive and spreading rapidly. My doctors tell me their best estimate is that I have only a few weeks left to live. This is the final verdict. My fight is over.”
In recent years, Krauthammer was best known for his nightly appearance as a panelist on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” and as a commentator on various Fox news shows.
Following the news of the death of his “good friend,” Baier posted on Twitter, “I am sure you will be owning the panel discussion in heaven as well. And we’ll make sure your wise words and thoughts – your legacy – will live on here.”
Two of Krauthammers Fox News close, long-times collegues shared the news of their friend on Twitter.
R.I.P. good friend. I am sure you will be owning the panel discussion in heaven as well. And we’ll make sure your wise words and thoughts – your legacy – will live on here @krauthammer
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) June 21, 2018
Terribly sad news. The great Charles Krauthammer has died.
— Brit Hume (@brithume) June 21, 2018
Last week, Charles Krauthammer published an open letter the viewers, readers and fans, updating them on his terminal condition and bidding them farewell. As The Tennessee Star reported:
“This is the final verdict. My fight is over,” he wrote.
Krauthammer took a leave of absence in August of 2017 to undergo surgery – the details of which were not discussed at the time – but a number of secondary complications plagued the 68-year-old’s recovery.
As recently as February, Krauthammer reached out to say he “will be back” in a letter Special Report host Bret Baier read on camera.
In his letter Friday, however, he shared that recent tests found that although the procedure to remove the malignant tumor from his abdomen was successful, the cancer had returned.
“I have been uncharacteristically silent these past ten months,” his letter began. “I had thought that silence would soon be coming to an end, but I’m afraid I must tell you now that fate has decided on a different course for me.”
