Charles Krauthammer, the conservative columnist who has been a mainstay of the Washington Post and Fox News, has announced in an open letter that he has only weeks to live as a result of his cancer returning.
“I have been uncharacteristically silent these past ten months,” Krauthammer wrote. “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.”
Fox News’s Special Report has been giving regular updates on Krauthammer’s health (Krauthammer would frequently appear on the show as part of its All-Star Panel of pundits) and his health had been reported as improving. “However, 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,” he continued. “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.”
Following Krauthammer’s announcement, reactions poured in. Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox and Fox News, said in a statement, “Charles has been a profound source of personal and intellectual inspiration for all of us at Fox News. His always principled stand on the most important issues of our time has been a guiding star in an often turbulent world, a world that has too many superficial thinkers vulnerable to the ebb and flow of fashion, and a world that, unfortunately, has only one Charles Krauthammer.”
“His words, his ideas, his dignity and his integrity will resonate within our society and within me for many, many years to come.”
“Karen and I were saddened to learn that Charles Krauthammer, a man we greatly admire, is nearing the end of his extraordinary life. His wit, his wisdom, and his tireless defense of Western values have made an indelible mark on the minds of millions of Americans, and his irreplaceable pen and voice shaped our nation for the better,” Vice President Mike Pence said in a statement. “The ideas that Charles has long advocated are timeless, and his work will inspire our people for generations to come.”
“Thank you, Charles, for your remarkable contribution to the American story. You are on our hearts and in our prayers. God bless you, your wife Robyn, and your son Daniel in this difficult time.”