Lou Dobbs, the longtime cable news personality who became one of television’s most polarizing figures, has died at age 78.

Dobbs built a career spanning decades in broadcast journalism, starting in Arizona radio before joining CNN as one of the network’s founding anchors. His on-air presence combined authoritative reporting with pointed commentary on business and political matters.

A Career Marked by Controversy

Dobbs’s later television years focused heavily on immigration policy coverage and criticism of former President Barack Obama. His broadcasts regularly generated significant debate about the role of opinion in cable news programming.

Media observers across the political spectrum acknowledged his substantial influence on how cable news presented commentary-driven coverage, even as they disagreed about his approach. Critics argued his commentary crossed journalistic boundaries, while supporters credited him with reshaping television news formats.

Reaction and Legacy

Former President Donald Trump and others who supported Dobbs’s viewpoints described him as a patriot and media innovator. Those who opposed his work contended he blurred lines of journalistic responsibility.

Dobbs is survived by his wife, Debi, and six children. His death concludes a television career that significantly shaped modern cable news programming and commentary.

This story has been updated. CNN’s Digital Team contributed to this report.