# Leland Vittert

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American journalist

Leland Vittert Vittert in 2018 Born (1982-08-31) August 31, 1982 (age 43) Illinois, U.S. Alma mater Northwestern University (BA) Occupations Journalist, news correspondent, anchor Employer NewsNation Spouse Rachel Ann Putnam (m. 2025) Relatives Liberty Vittert (sister)

**Leland Holt Vittert** (born August 31, 1982)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] is an American journalist who is the anchor and national correspondent for [NewsNation](/source/NewsNation). He worked for [Fox News](/source/Fox_News) from 2010 to 2021,[1][2][3] initially as a foreign correspondent based in [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem)[4][5][6] and later as a [news presenter](/source/News_presenter). He was a substitute host on *[Fox & Friends](/source/Fox_%26_Friends)*, *[America's Newsroom](/source/America's_Newsroom)*, and *[Happening Now](/source/Happening_Now)*.[1][7][8][9][10]

## Early life and education

Vittert was born on August 31, 1982, in St. Louis, Missouri at Barnes Hospital. Vittert earned a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) from the [Medill School of Journalism](/source/Medill_School_of_Journalism) at [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University), where he joined [Theta Chi](/source/Theta_Chi).[1][2] He also completed [The General Course](/source/The_General_Course), a one-year study abroad program at the [London School of Economics](/source/London_School_of_Economics).[1][2]

In September 2025, Vittert published a memoir, *Born Lucky*, revealing publicly that he is autistic. His father taught him to navigate his life despite his long-secret autism.

## Career

### Television reporter

Vittert in 2011

During the 2000s, Vittert anchored the weekend news at [KDVR-TV](/source/KDVR) in [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), and was a reporter for [WFTV-TV](/source/WFTV-TV) in [Orlando, Florida](/source/Orlando%2C_Florida). He was also at [KATV-TV](/source/KATV) in [Little Rock, Arkansas](/source/Little_Rock%2C_Arkansas), [KNWA-TV](/source/KNWA-TV) in [Fayetteville, Arkansas](/source/Fayetteville%2C_Arkansas), and [WMTV-TV](/source/WMTV) in [Madison, Wisconsin](/source/Madison%2C_Wisconsin).[1]

Vittert's coverage of the [Freddie Gray riots](/source/2015_Baltimore_protests) in Baltimore was praised by *[Mediaite](/source/Mediaite)* and *[The Daily Caller](/source/The_Daily_Caller)*.[11][12][13] According to *Mediaite*, Vittert "made his mark…by standing among protesters, facing a silent line of riot police, while interviewing residents and demonstrators affected by the story in various ways. He [broke] news about the Baltimore mayor's alleged stand-down orders for police, and [had] tense question-and-answer exchanges with lawmakers and public figures throughout the city."[11][13][14]

Arriving in the Middle East in 2010, Vittert began following the [Arab Spring](/source/Arab_Spring).[4] In 2011, he was one of the few reporters live on the ground in Cairo's [Tahrir Square](/source/Tahrir_Square) on the night that Egyptian President [Hosni Mubarak](/source/Hosni_Mubarak) left power.[4] Vittert subsequently traveled to Libya during the first days of the country's revolution, where he reported on [Muammar Gaddafi](/source/Muammar_Gaddafi)'s counterattack and later from the besieged city of [Misurata](/source/Misrata).[15][16]

Vittert covered [Operation Pillar of Cloud](/source/Operation_Pillar_of_Defense), the 2012 war between [Israel](/source/Israel) and [Hamas](/source/Hamas).[17] He has interviewed [Muhammad al-Zawahiri](/source/Muhammad_al-Zawahiri), the brother of [Al-Qaeda](/source/Al-Qaeda) leader [Ayman al-Zawahiri](/source/Ayman_al-Zawahiri).[18][19]

Before coming to [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), in 2014, Vittert spent a month in [Eastern Ukraine](/source/Eastern_Ukraine) as Russian-backed militias [took over parts of the country](/source/Russian_military_intervention_in_Ukraine_(2014%E2%80%93present)).[20][21]

While covering the [George Floyd protests](/source/George_Floyd_protests) outside the [White House](/source/White_House) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), Vittert and his crew were attacked by protesters and later chased away from the area.[22] In an interview on *[Cavuto Live](/source/Cavuto_Live)* the following day, Vittert stated that he and his crew were assaulted after a protester realized they were employed by [Fox News](/source/Fox_News).[23][24]

Vittert's last on-air appearance on Fox News was in January 2021; he left the network in April 2021. A Fox News spokesperson said, "We have mutually and amicably parted ways with Leland Vittert", leaving it unclear whether he quit or was fired.[25] It later emerged that he had been asked to leave by one of the Murdochs after Vittert had asked tough questions of President [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump).[26]

On May 5, 2021, [Nexstar](/source/Nexstar_Media_Group) announced that Vittert would join NewsNation starting May 17, 2021, as a national correspondent and anchor.[27] On May 17, 2021, Vittert made his first appearance for NewsNation on *[The Donlon Report](/source/The_Donlon_Report)* and *[NewsNation Prime](/source/NewsNation_Prime)*. On July 8, 2021, Nexstar announced that Vittert would anchor a primetime show called *[On Balance with Leland Vittert](/source/On_Balance_with_Leland_Vittert)* on NewsNation starting July 19, 2021.[28]

### Memoir

In 2025, Vittert released a memoir, revealing for the first time his autism, a diagnosis which came very early in life. The book title references his childhood nickname, Lucky, which came from a doctor who commented on Vittert's surviving his umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck. Vittert only began to speak at age three. He was bullied mercilessly in school; his father, Mark, actually quit his job to devote his life to getting Leland through his childhood despite the obvious challenge of being autistic. It was Mark, along with Leland's mom Carol, as well as sister Liberty, who helped him survive the situation.[29][30]

## Personal life

Vittert won [Westword](/source/Westword)'s Best Hair on a TV Anchor Award in 2007.[2][6] His sister, [Liberty Vittert](/source/Liberty_Vittert), is a television chef and [clinical professor](/source/Clinical_professor) of data science at the [Olin Business School](/source/Olin_Business_School) at [Washington University in St. Louis](/source/Washington_University_in_St._Louis).[31][32][33]

He married Rachel Ann Putnam on June 7, 2025, in a ceremony officiated by a [Universal Life Church](/source/Universal_Life_Church) minister at [San Ysidro Ranch](/source/San_Ysidro_Ranch).[34]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-auto_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-auto_1-4) ["Leland Vittert"](http://www.foxnews.com/person/v/leland-vittert.html). *Fox News*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-auto1_2-3) Husted, Bill (October 7, 2009). ["Born lucky, with good hair, and that's no lie"](http://www.denverpost.com/2009/10/07/born-lucky-with-good-hair-and-thats-no-lie/). *[The Denver Post](/source/The_Denver_Post)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Leland Vittert"](http://insider.foxnews.com/people/leland-vittert). *[Fox News](/source/Fox_News) Insider*. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto2_4-2) ["Egypt coverage creates unforgettable daytime TV"](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/11/egypt-coverage-creates-unforgettable-daytime-tv/). *[The Washington Times](/source/The_Washington_Times)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-auto3_5-0)** ["Reporting Live from the Middle East"](http://jburroughs.org/sites/default/files/Jan12Rep.pdf) (PDF). January 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto4_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto4_6-1) Roberts, Michael (July 12, 2010). ["Leland Vittert: With Fox 31 anchor's departure, another Best Hair winner goes national"](http://www.westword.com/news/leland-vittert-with-fox-31-anchors-departure-another-best-hair-winner-goes-national-5885942). *Westword*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["TUNE IN: Fox News Channel's Special Live Coverage of the Inauguration of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, All Day Today!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170125010140/http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/01/19/tune-fox-news-channels-special-live-coverage-inauguration-president-elect-donald-trump). *FoxNation.com*. January 19, 2017. Archived from [the original](http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/01/19/tune-fox-news-channels-special-live-coverage-inauguration-president-elect-donald-trump) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kludt, Tom (August 10, 2016). ["On Fox, Trump's gun comments become 'cat nip' for liberals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160813221251/http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/10/media/donald-trump-fox-news/index.html). *[CNNMoney](/source/CNNMoney)*. Archived from [the original](https://money.cnn.com/2016/08/10/media/donald-trump-fox-news/index.html) on August 13, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** de Moraes, Lisa (October 6, 2016). ["News Anchors, Crews Rush To Meet Hurricane Matthew As Coast Lashing Begins – Update"](https://deadline.com/2016/10/news-anchors-crews-rush-to-meet-hurricane-matthew-as-coast-lashing-begins-1201832152/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["LISTEN: Fox's LELAND VITTERT Previewed President Trump's First Foreign Trip"](http://www.wmal.com/2017/05/12/listen-foxs-leland-vittert-previewed-president-trumps-first-foreign-trip/). *WMAL-AF*. May 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto5_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto5_11-1) Kirell, Andrew (May 1, 2015). ["'Never Treat Pressure with Pressure': Fox's Leland Vittert Talks to Mediaite About His Baltimore Coverage"](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/never-treat-pressure-with-pressure-foxs-leland-vittert-talks-to-mediaite-about-his-baltimore-coverage/). *[Mediaite.com](/source/Mediaite.com)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Fox Reporter Confronts Baltimore Mayor and Sharpton in Tense Exchange"](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-reporter-confronts-baltimore-mayor-and-sharpton-in-terse-exchange/). *[Mediaite](/source/Mediaite)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto6_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto6_13-1) Kirell, Andrew (April 28, 2015). ["The Worst Moment of Fox's Baltimore Riot Coverage"](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-worst-moment-of-foxs-baltimore-riot-coverage/). *[Mediaite](/source/Mediaite)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Source: Baltimore Mayor Ordered Police to Stand Down During Riots"](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/source-baltimore-mayor-ordered-police-to-stand-down). *[Mediaite.com](/source/Mediaite.com)*. May 2, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Leland Vittert on Libya Latest"](http://video.foxnews.com/v/4582906/?#sp=show-clips). *[Fox News](/source/Fox_News)*. March 13, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Fox News Insider (March 7, 2011). ["VIDEO: Fox Reporter Leland Vittert Caught in Middle of Libyan Battle"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSLxPdjalSk). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Fox News reporter runs for cover at Israeli school targeted by Hamas rocket"](http://therightscoop.com/fox-news-reporter-runs-for-cover-at-israeli-school-targeted-by-hamas-rocket/). *The Right Scoop*. November 19, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Brother of Al Qaeda Leader al-Zawahiri Talks About Call for Anti-American Protests"](http://video.foxnews.com/v/1846053163001/?#sp=show-clips). *[Fox News](/source/Fox_News)*. September 17, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["The failed suicide bomber who loved Leland Vittert"](http://video.foxnews.com/v/5269686848001/?#sp=show-clips). *[Fox News](/source/Fox_News)*. January 3, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Fighting leaves six dead in Eastern Ukraine"](http://video.foxnews.com/v/3537939157001/?#sp=show-clips). *Fox News*. May 5, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["'Complete lie': Pro-Russian official denies role in mysterious leaflets to Ukrainian Jews"](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/complete-lie-pro-russian-official-denies-role-in-mysterious-leaflets-to-ukrainian-jews/). *Fox News*. April 18, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Fox News reporter attacked, chased from demonstration"](https://www.boston.com/news/media/2020/05/30/fox-news-reporter-leland-vittert-attacked-protest/). *www.boston.com*. Retrieved 2020-05-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Johnson, Ted (May 30, 2020). ["Fox News' Leland Vittert Describes "Very Frightening" Scene Near White House As Protest Targets He And His Crew"](https://deadline.com/2020/05/fox-news-david-vittert-george-floyd-protests-white-house-lafayette-park-1202947277/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved May 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Byrnes, Jesse (May 30, 2020). ["Journalists voice support for Fox News crew hounded by protesters: 'Unacceptable'"](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/500272-journalists-voice-support-for-fox-news-crew-hounded-by-protesters-unacceptable). *[The Hill](/source/The_Hill_(newspaper))*. Retrieved May 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Lincoln, Ross A. (April 30, 2021). ["Fox News Parts Ways With Anchor Leland Vittert, Off Air Since Just After Covering Capitol Riots"](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fox-news-parts-ways-anchor-223148955.html). *TheWrap*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** [https://www.stlmag.com/news/leland-vittert-stlouis-bullying-fox-news/](https://www.stlmag.com/news/leland-vittert-stlouis-bullying-fox-news/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Former Fox News anchor Leland Vittert joins NewsNation - Robert Feder"](https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/05/05/former-fox-news-anchor-leland-vittert-joins-newsnation/). *www.robertfeder.com*. Retrieved 2021-05-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Katz, A.J. (July 8, 2021). ["Leland Vittert Earns His Own Primetime Show on NewsNation"](https://adweek.it/2VdOMhC). *[Adweek](/source/Adweek)*. Retrieved July 12, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** [https://people.com/leland-vittert-describes-growing-up-with-autism-in-new-book-born-lucky-exclusive-11820507](https://people.com/leland-vittert-describes-growing-up-with-autism-in-new-book-born-lucky-exclusive-11820507)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** [https://www.stlmag.com/news/leland-vittert-stlouis-bullying-fox-news/](https://www.stlmag.com/news/leland-vittert-stlouis-bullying-fox-news/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Media mogul Mark Vittert shuns the media | Gateway Journalism Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510173315/http://gatewayjr.org/2012/08/31/media-mogul-mark-vittert-shuns-the-media/). *gatewayjr.org*. Archived from [the original](http://gatewayjr.org/2012/08/31/media-mogul-mark-vittert-shuns-the-media/) on May 10, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - MyGlasgow News - Archives (pre 2017) - 2016 - May - Meet Dr Liberty Vittert"](http://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/archives/2016/may/headline_459362_en.html). *Gla.ac.uk*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Smith, Nancy DuVergne (June 24, 2016). ["American Cooking on Scottish TV? Ask the Statistics Expert"](https://slice.mit.edu/2016/06/24/american-cooking-on-scottish-tv-ask-the-statistics-expert/). *Slice of MIT from the MIT Alumni Association*. Retrieved June 12, 2017.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["His Four-Legged Wingman Helped to Seal the Deal"](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/style/rachel-putnam-leland-vittert-wedding.html). *The New York Times*.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leland Vittert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Vittert) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Vittert?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.