CNN commentator and Republican strategist Alice Stewart died suddenly at age 58.
Law enforcement believed it was from natural causes as no foul play was suspected.
Stewart had an extensive background in politics, serving as communications director for Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaigns, and worked as a journalist before joining CNN in 2016.
She was known for providing a unique conservative perspective on the network while still being willing to criticize Trump when needed.
“Alice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN,” network CEO Mark Thompson wrote. “A political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNN’s coverage, known across our bureaus not only for her political savvy, but for her unwavering kindness. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such an extraordinary loss.”
“Heartbreaking. Alice was wonderful and talented and a dear friend,” Cruz wrote online. “And she loved America fiercely. She lived every day to the fullest, and she will be deeply missed. May God’s comfort and peace be upon her loved ones. RIP.”
“My role at CNN is to be a conservative commentator; I provide my perspective on the politics of the day from my conservative viewpoint,” Stewart said in 2020. “There are different facets of conservatism these days. There are people who are supportive of Donald Trump, and there are never-Trumpers. I support the president, but there are a lot of things I don’t agree with regarding his tone and demeanor, and I call him out on it when necessary.”
Stewart was praised across media and political circles for her policy acumen as well as her warmth and kindness towards others.
Her death was mourned on CNN throughout the day with tributes acknowledging her intelligence and friendship, as a major loss.
“We always invited her to come on my show because we knew we would be a little bit smarter at the end of that conversation,” CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer stated.
“Alice Stewart was a kind, talented, and faith-filled woman of God. She will be sincerely missed. My heart and my prayers go out to her family,” Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany wrote on X.
