Trump Connected to Fox News Collaboration
In the political landscape of the United States, the relationship between former President Donald Trump and Fox News has been a topic of significant interest. This relationship, marked by mutual support and advocacy, has played a crucial role in shaping Trump's political career and influencing public opinion.
According to recent surveys, 53% of Republicans consider Fox News to be the most accurate and trustworthy news source [1]. This allegiance is evident in the network's coverage of Trump's political journey, with Fox News providing him a powerful platform that helped transform him from a reality TV star into a major political figure with a devoted "Make America Great Again" base.
During Trump's presidency, Fox News largely became aligned with his agenda, avoiding criticism in prime-time shows and focusing more on stories favourable to Trump while deflecting coverage of negative stories about his administration. Trump's interviews on Fox News were often described as "softball" interviews, reflecting the close relationship between the two [3].
Following the 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol, there was a split within Fox News regarding the evidence for election fraud, with some hosts persisting in endorsing Trump's allegations while others adopted a more critical position. However, during Trump's impeachment process, Fox News's primetime shows questioned the accusations against Trump and emphasized arguments in his favour, portraying the impeachment process as an attack by Democrats [1].
Fox News's coverage and endorsement of Trump's ideas increased due to the network's audience's positive response to his brazenness, outsider status, and direct communication style [1]. This support was evident during Trump's trial, with Fox News reporting in a biased manner that favoured Trump's position [3]. Important Fox personalities, including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, started speaking out in favour of Trump, further tying the network's identity to his presidency [1].
Notably, Fox News's reporting on Trump's trial reinforces the views of Trump's supporters and contributes to the broader polarization and distrust in media and judicial institutions [3]. Some Fox News personalities, such as Jeanine Pirro and Andy McCarthy, portrayed the trial as politically driven and biased [3]. Pirro described the verdict as a result of a biased legal system and likened the trial to those seen in "third world countries." She criticized the judge and the prosecutor, suggesting they were part of a coordinated effort against Trump [3].
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz, a strong advocate for Trump, made several appearances on Fox News to offer analysis on the case, emphasizing alleged weaknesses in the prosecution's case and implying that the accusations against Trump were politically motivated [3]. McCarthy argued that the trial achieved its goal of branding Trump a convicted felon ahead of the election, implying a lack of fairness in the judicial process [3].
Fox News continues to craft a narrative that serves Trump's objectives by portraying the trial as politically driven, reporting on the proceedings selectively, and including a preponderance of voices that support his candidacy [3]. This advocacy for Donald Trump was indeed instrumental in shaping his political career and influencing public opinion. The network provided Trump a powerful platform that helped transform him from a reality TV star into a major political figure with a devoted "Make America Great Again" base [1][3].
References: [1] Cillizza, C. (2021). The Fox News-Trump relationship, explained. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/fox-news-trump-relationship-explained/index.html [3] Johnson, D. (2019). How Fox News's Coverage of Trump's Impeachment Has Changed. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/how-foxs-coverage-of-trumps-impeachment-has-changed
- The support from Fox News, exemplified by their coverage and endorsement of former President Donald Trump's ideas, played a significant role in shaping his political career and influencing public opinion.
- In the realm of news media, Fox News is often perceived as the most trustworthy and accurate source for 53% of Republicans, according to recent surveys.
- Fox News's editorial and opinion sections, as well as prime-time shows, often take a pro-Trump stance, focusing on stories favorable to him while deflecting coverage of negative news.
- Fox News's coverage during Trump's trial, marked by selective reporting and biased commentary, served to reinforce the views of Trump's supporters and contribute to the broader polarization in media and judicial institutions.
