President Trump took aim at Fox News on Sunday, accusing the network of providing a platform to Democratic candidates in the run-up to the midterm elections and arguing that such exposure is damaging Republican prospects in competitive contests.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Fox News is “spending far too much time putting on the OPPONENTS of Republican Party Candidates,” whom he described as “people that love our Country, and have Great Policies and Ideas.” He added that these “American Patriots are being absolutely ‘blurred out’ by the Media, and Fox is doing little to help.” According to Trump, that dynamic explains why “this Race is close, if it is indeed close.”
The president’s frustration with Fox News is not new. He has repeatedly chastised the network for what he considers overly favorable treatment of Democrats, previously labeling such coverage as “politically correct.” Last week, he leveled a similar complaint, saying the outlet was being too kind to Democratic candidates on its programs.
Fox News has hosted several Democratic contenders in recent weeks, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Kentucky Senate candidate Charles Booker—who is vying to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)—and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand. The network’s willingness to book these figures appears to have irked the president as he campaigns aggressively for Republican candidates.
Trump’s latest criticism came just hours after he phoned into Fox Business host Larry Kudlow’s program, where his former White House economic adviser heaped praise on his campaign efforts. “You’ve been relentless! Your campaigning, it’s Herculean. You’re turning the tide. You’re getting voters out. You’re raising enthusiasm,” Kudlow said. Trump responded, “I have worked very hard. I’ve done 14 rallies in nine days and it’s a lot.”
The president has been crisscrossing the country in recent weeks, holding rallies to boost Republican candidates as the party fights to preserve its House and Senate majorities in November. The midterm environment is challenging for Republicans, with an unpopular war with Iran, rising gas prices, and a president whose approval rating has hit a record low. Trump’s economic messaging has struggled to calm voter anxiety, as seen in recent polling.
Trump’s attacks on Fox News are part of a broader pattern of criticizing media coverage. He has also escalated feuds with individual Republicans, such as Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski over the state’s ranked-choice voting system, and has rallied in Michigan as the Justice Department ramps up election scrutiny.
As the midterms approach, Trump’s willingness to publicly pressure Fox News underscores his focus on shaping the media narrative—and his concern that any airtime for Democrats could tip closely contested races.
