Former US President Donald Trump has unleashed a blistering attack on media mogul Rupert Murdoch, calling for a wholesale purge of The Wall Street Journal's editorial staff. The outburst was triggered by the publication's coverage of damning allegations made by ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton in his forthcoming memoir.
The Bolton Bombshell
At the heart of the controversy are claims from Bolton's book, "The Room Where It Happened," which alleges that President Trump explicitly appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to assist his 2020 re-election campaign. According to Bolton, Trump told Xi that increased purchases of US soybeans and wheat would ultimately benefit American farmers, a key voter demographic for the President.
The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, typically seen as a conservative stronghold, chose to highlight these claims, much to Trump's visible fury.
Trump's Social Media Tirade
Taking to his Truth Social platform, the former President did not mince words. He branded the WSJ's editorial team as "RINOS & Globalists" – Republicans In Name Only – and demanded that Rupert Murdoch initiate an immediate "cleanup and removal" of the journalists responsible.
Trump's relationship with Murdoch's media empire has been notably volatile. While he frequently praised Fox News during his presidency, he has recently turned his ire towards the network and its sister publications, accusing them of disloyalty and liberal bias.
A Fractured Alliance
This public rift highlights the deepening tensions between Trump and the conservative media establishment that once fervently supported him. The WSJ's decision to give credence to Bolton's claims – from a figure Trump has repeatedly dismissed as a "disgruntled former employee" – appears to have been the final straw.
Political analysts suggest this very public falling out could have significant implications for the Republican Party's media strategy heading into the next election cycle. With Murdoch's outlets representing a substantial portion of conservative media, an open war with the former President creates a formidable schism on the right.
Neither News Corp nor The Wall Street Journal has issued a public response to Trump's demands as of this reporting.
