Fox News under fire from Trump over airing his sliding economic approval numbers
Oh boy, the day ain't looking too peachy for President Donald Trump, even Fox News, his go-to news source, seems to have turned a corner.
Yesterday, the president took swings at media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and two of his media giants — Fox News and the Wall Street Journal — on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In a late-morning rant, Trump went after Murdoch, Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal, claiming the nonagenarian media mogul "has told me for years that he is going to get rid of his FoxNews, Trump Hating, Fake Pollster, but he has never done so."
"This 'pollster' has gotten me, and MAGA, wrong for years," the president wrote. "Also, and while he’s at it, he should start making changes at the China Loving Wall Street Journal. It sucks!!!"
The president's outburst appears to be in response to Fox's coverage of its Wednesday poll, which painted a picture of American sentiments towards Trump's tenure, especially his tariff policy.
Within hours of the president's post, Fox News senior national correspondent Rich Edson discussed the poll during the network's 9 am broadcast, "America’s Newsroom," stating that American voters are "skeptical" of Trump's tariff policy.
During the same hour, co-hosts Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer sat down with Harold Ford Jr., who expressed concerns about the tariffs causing "angst and anxiety amongst a lot of small businesses," and pointed out the absence of completed trade deals.
It's not just Fox's poll that's raising eyebrows. A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found only 37% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy, a record low for either of his terms. A new Gallup poll finds that a record-high 53% of Americans believe their economic situation is deteriorating—a first since 2001.
Trump's criticism of Fox News on Truth Social marks only the second time he's done so during his second term, this time taking it up with the network's boss.
Since taking office, Trump has posted about the network more than 50 times, mostly to praise favorable coverage or applaud his allies appearing on-air. However, early last month, he personally attacked Fox's senior White House correspondent, Jacqui Heinrich.
As for the Wall Street Journal, it's been in Trump's crosshairs during his second term. The president has repeatedly bashed the newspaper and its conservative-leaning editorial board for its critical coverage of his tariff policies.
Over the years, Murdoch has waxed and waned in favor with the president. While Fox News has long been a top choice, Trump once called Murdoch a "piece of shit" after the mogul's New York Post criticized his 2024 campaign launch.
Murdoch, for his part, has also shown mixed feelings about the president. Records from the Dominion defamation lawsuit show Murdoch's disdain for the second-term president, summed up by Murdoch's labeling Trump a "fucking idiot."
Still, that hasn't stopped Murdoch from staying close to Trump. In early February, the media mogul paid a visit to Trump in the Oval Office.
[1] New York Magazine. (2023, March 2). Trump Shoves Rupert Murdoch Under the Bus for Fox News Polling. [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/03/trump-slams-rupert-murdoch-for-fox-news-polling.html]
[2] The Hill. (2023, March 2). Trump attacks Fox News over poll rating him '11 points underwater.' [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3934121-trump-attacks-fox-news-over-poll-rating-him-11-points-underwater]
- Trump's criticism of Fox News on Truth Social, a reversal of his previous praise, has indicated a shift in his relationship with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and his media giants, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.
- The recent tension appears to stem from Fox News' coverage of its Wednesday poll that showed American voters skeptical of Trump's tariff policy, a stance that seemed to contradict the president's claims.
- News outlets like Reuters and Gallup have also revealed similar sentiments, with only 37% of Americans approving of Trump's handling of the economy and a record-high 53% believing their economic situation is deteriorating.
- The president's ire extends beyond Fox News, with the Wall Street Journal becoming another target of his criticism due to its critical coverage of his tariff policies.
- Over the years, Murdoch and Trump have had a rollercoaster ride of favoritism, with the media mogul's New York Post criticizing Trump's 2024 campaign launch prompting him to call Murdoch a "piece of shit."
- Murdoch, despite his expressed disdain for Trump, has maintained a close relationship with the president, even meeting him in the Oval Office in early February.
