A native of Carmel, Indiana, Schmitt graduated from the prestigious Indiana University Ernie Pyle School of Journalism, quickly proving his talent for digging up scoops and breaking major news stories. Most recently Schmitt anchored “Fox & Friends First” and was a co-anchor for “Fox Nation.”
He worked his way up from local news stations to network positions at ABC, CBS, NBC and the Fox News Channel covering such stories as the fast-spreading California wildfires and killer hurricanes Harvey, Gustav and Hanna.
Schmitt was on the ground 48 hours after an earthquake decimated Haiti, killing more than 300,000 people. He also covered the deportation of Nazi death camp guard 95-year-old Jakiw Palij who was discovered living in Queens, New York.
Schmitt’s variety of experiences in large and small media markets give him a unique perspective on the news business. He understands and identifies with Americans living in areas that are often deemed “flyover states” by coastal elitists.