President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Fox News via his Truth Social platform, accusing the conservative network of allowing Democratic guests to spread lies without fact-checking and complaining that such coverage makes it difficult for him to secure electoral victories.
Trump's Sunday Social Media Onslaught
The president had a busy Sunday on Truth Social, sharing memes, criticising Iran's stance on peace talks as 'totally unacceptable,' celebrating primary defeats of Republicans who opposed GOP-led redistricting in Indiana, and rebuking conservative Supreme Court justices for insufficient loyalty. However, his primary focus was a tirade against Fox News.
Trump appeared particularly angered by an interview on the network's weekend show The Sunday Briefing, where senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich spoke with California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna about gerrymandering and U.S.-China trade.
Trump's Specific Complaints
'You could listen to FoxNews all day long, absolutely devour it, but then, when you hear SLEAZEBAGS, like Congressman Ro Khanna, 'a wolf in sheep's clothing,' LIE, LIE, LIE, AND LIE AGAIN, without any pushback, or competent rebuttal from an anchor, in this case, Jacqui Heinrich, the entire Common Sense dialogue that has been going on all day at Fox is completely obliterated!' the president fumed.
Trump did not specify which of Khanna's statements he found objectionable, but continued: 'Why would Fox put SCUM like this on, or others, such as Low Rated Bill Maher, who gains 'credibility' by constant referral to him as though he were a Liberal source of 'Wisdom,' or very Low IQ Hakeem Jeffries, who considers the Supreme Court 'illegitimate,' and probably hates our Country.'
Impact on MAGA Republicans
He argued that such appearances undermine the network's credibility: 'No matter how 'Fair and Balanced' the day's News at Fox may be, the end result is destroyed by professional Liars, Conmen, and Liberal, Crooked Politicians. This is why MAGA Republicans, who are actually close to 100% of the Party, hate Fox, despite the wonderful contributions made by so many of their great anchors and commentators. Hard to win Elections like this!'
Khanna's Fox News Appearance
During his interview, Khanna criticised the U.S. for importing cheaper steel from China instead of supporting domestic manufacturing, suggesting this contradicted Trump's 'America First' economic agenda. He urged Trump to address the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an upcoming visit to Beijing. Khanna has also been active in seeking justice for victims of financier Jeffrey Epstein, pressuring the Trump administration to release related government files.
Trump's Complex Relationship with Fox News
The president's attack on comedian Bill Maher is notable, as the two had a White House dinner last year arranged by Kid Rock, after which Trump resumed criticising Maher. In a previous Truth Social post, Trump claimed Maher arrived 'nervous, scared' and immediately asked for a drink, calling it 'very endearing but, at the same time, absolutely pathetic.'
While Trump is a known Fox News viewer—regularly calling into shows like Fox and Friends, The Five, and Hannity, and granting interviews to anchors like Maria Bartiromo, Laura Ingraham, and Bret Baier—he also criticises the network periodically. His latest broadside, along with attacks on Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, may be an effort to maintain unity within his conservative coalition ahead of November's midterm elections.
