NEW YORK (AP) — Lou Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, has died. He was 78.

His death was announced Thursday in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” No cause of death was given.

“Lou’s legacy will forever live on as a patriot and a great American. We ask for your prayers for Lou’s wonderful wife Debi, children and grandchildren,” the post said.

He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox Business from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN.

“An incredible business mind with a gift for broadcasting, Lou helped pioneer cable news into a successful and influential industry,” the statement said. “We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Dobbs was an early and vocal supporter of Donald Trump during his candidacy for the White House and throughout his presidency. After his death was announced Thursday, Trump wrote on his media platform Truth Social that Dobbs was a friend and a “truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent.”

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away.”

“A friend and a truly amazing reporter, journalist, and artist.” He knew more about the world and what was “happening” than most people.

“Lou was one of a kind, and he loved our country.” We’re very sorry for his wonderful wife Debi’s loss and for their whole family. We will miss him a lot.

The cause of death was not given right away.

Before working at Fox News and CNN, Dobbs was a reporter for the Arizona radio station KBLU, where he covered police and fire cases.

Around the middle of the 1970s, he switched to working in television and joined NBC’s King-TV in Seattle.

Dobbs was also one of the first reporters to work for CNN when Ted Turner started the network in 1980.

He joined as the show’s chief economics correspondent and host of the business news show Moneyline.

While working at CNN, Dobbs spread the controversial idea that Barack Obama, who was running for president at the time, was not born in the United States.

“Lou helped make cable news a successful and important business.”

“We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Deborah Dobbs, his wife, and his six children will miss him.