If you’ve been scrolling through cable news or checking out the latest revolving door at the Pentagon, you’ve probably seen the name Gabrielle Cuccia popping up. She’s not your typical buttoned-up D.C. reporter. Honestly, she’s kind of a lightning rod. Whether she’s appearing as a guest on Fox News or breaking down defense policy on her own terms, people have questions. Specifically, why did a self-described “MAGA girl” who worked for Trump’s White House end up getting fired from a pro-Trump network for, of all things, criticizing a Trump appointee?
It’s a weird story. It involves the Pentagon, a messy Signal chat leak, and a very public firing from One America News (OAN).
Most people know her from her recent appearances on Fox News @ Night, where she’s been weighing in on things like the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or the state of D.C. law enforcement. But her path to those panel seats wasn't exactly a straight line. Before she was a regular guest on the big networks, she was right in the middle of the action—and the controversy—at the Department of Defense.
The OAN Firing and the "Signalgate" Fallout
Basically, Gabrielle Cuccia became the "Chief Pentagon Correspondent" for OAN in early 2025. This was a big deal at the time because the new administration, specifically Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had just kicked out legacy media like NBC from their long-standing workspaces and handed the keys over to friendly outlets like OAN. Cuccia even posted on social media about how she personally renovated the old NBC office into what she called the "Liberty Lounge."
But the honeymoon didn't last long.
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Everything changed around May 2025. There was this whole "Signalgate" scandal where Hegseth reportedly accidentally included a reporter from The Atlantic in a private Signal group chat discussing military strikes. After that, the Pentagon tightened its grip on press access. We're talking locked doors that were always open before and requiring "escorts" for reporters to move through non-classified areas.
Cuccia wasn't having it.
She wrote a blistering post on her Substack titled "The Secretary of Defense-ive." In it, she basically argued that the Pentagon’s new rules were the "antithesis" of MAGA values. Her logic? MAGA is supposed to be about questioning government overreach and demanding transparency, not blindly following a guy just because he’s on "your team."
Three days after that post went live, her Pentagon badge was revoked. By Friday, OAN fired her. They told her the article had been "put on their radar." It’s a pretty wild outcome: a pro-Trump reporter getting fired by a pro-Trump network for wanting more transparency from a Trump appointee.
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From the White House to Fox News Guest
Before all that drama, Gabrielle Cuccia had a pretty deep background in the Trump world. She served in the White House during the first Trump administration (2017-2018) and even worked in White House Information Technology. She’s also a former government contractor.
You might remember a clip of her that went viral on Newsmax a while back. She started talking about the 2020 election fraud claims, and the anchor actually cut her mic. It’s funny because she’s often seen as "too radical" for some, yet she ended up losing her job for being "too critical" of the Pentagon's lack of transparency.
Since the OAN exit, she hasn't disappeared. Far from it.
- She’s become a frequent guest on Fox News, especially on late-night segments.
- She runs a popular Substack where she drops "classified" info and insider stories.
- She hawks "MAGA-branded" merchandise with slogans like "Love Your Country, Not Your Government."
Why the Gabrielle Cuccia Story Matters Right Now
People are searching for Gabrielle Cuccia Fox News because she represents a specific tension inside the conservative movement right now. It’s the clash between loyalty to a leader and the original "anti-establishment" roots of the movement.
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When she sits on a Fox News panel today, she’s speaking from the perspective of someone who has been on the inside of the White House and the Pentagon but has also been "purged" for speaking out. That gives her a weird kind of street cred with viewers who are skeptical of both the "Deep State" and the D.C. bureaucracy in general.
Quick Facts on Gabrielle Cuccia
- Education: She was a standout track and field athlete at the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League roots, believe it or not).
- The "Liberty Lounge": That was her name for the OAN Pentagon office she renovated before her firing.
- Political Stance: Calls herself a "MAGA girl" but emphasizes "Question everything."
- Current Status: Independent journalist, Substacker, and frequent Fox News contributor.
What’s Next for Cuccia?
If you're following her career, don't expect her to go back to a traditional network role anytime soon. She seems much more comfortable in the "creator economy" world, using her Fox News appearances to drive traffic back to her own platforms.
She’s recently been talking about everything from the "Trump-class battleships" to the 2026 economy. Whether you love her or find her controversial, she’s figured out how to stay relevant in a media environment that usually chews people up and spits them out.
Actionable Insights:
- Watch the Substack: If you want the unfiltered version of her Pentagon stories, that's where she puts the details that don't make it to air.
- Follow the Policy, Not Just the Person: Her firing is a case study in how "access journalism" works in D.C. When you criticize the people who give you the access, the access disappears.
- Check the Guest Lists: She frequently appears on Fox News @ Night—if you're looking for her latest takes, that’s the show to DVR.