Maria Bartiromo made her first public appearance since being fired from Fox at an event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump. The event took place at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan, where Bartiromo helped kick off a summit for women CEOs. The summit, called IMPERIA, is a new initiative aimed at bringing together female business leaders to collaborate and influence the economy. Bartiromo, known for her background in financial reporting, was seen at the event surrounded by men in suits, greeting them and taking photos. The event was marked by signs reading, "IMPERIA: The women who determine the next decade of business." Melania Trump, the First Lady, was present at the event, ringing the opening bell to officially launch IMPERIA. She was joined by several women CEOs, New York Stock Exchange President Lynn Martin, and Fox Business anchor Liz Claman. The initiative, according to Marc Beckman, a senior advisor to Melania, aims to create a forum for powerful women to collaborate across sectors, influence policy, and move capital. During a keynote speech, Melania emphasized the power of the women in the room, stating, "For generations, women fought for a seat at the table. The next chapter is about owning, growing, and making space for the women who come next." Bartiromo attended the invite-only event nearly three weeks after her abrupt departure from Fox. Her firing was sudden, and she did not get to say goodbye to her audience on her shows, including Mornings with Maria and Sunday Morning Futures. Fox expressed gratitude for her 12 years of service in a September 3 statement but did not provide specific reasons for her departure. According to media watchdog Status, Fox Business officials reportedly instructed on-air talent not to discuss a July speech by former President Donald Trump that included claims of election interference. Bartiromo reportedly violated her employment agreement by leaking this directive to the White House. Bartiromo has not directly addressed the details of her firing but thanked her fans in a cryptic social media message. She joined Fox Business in 2014 after a long career in financial reporting, starting at CNBC in 1993. She became known for being the first to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. In recent years, she became a supporter of Trump, often promoting his policies on her shows.