Donald Trump went after one of Fox News’s own anchors on election night, and he didn’t hold back. The president launched a blistering series of attacks on the network as Democrats racked up wins across the country.
Donald Trump calls out Fox News on election night
President Donald Trump launched multiple attacks against Fox News on election night. He targeted “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov first on Truth Social. “Watching the Pre-Election Results on FoxNews, but I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov’s voice,” Trump wrote. He called her “DUMB AS A ROCK” and said he would switch channels.
Co-host Greg Gutfeld then read a text message from Trump on air. The message contained further criticism of Tarlov’s remarks about gas prices. Tarlov responded on X, noting her comments about record-high gas prices on Election Day had bothered the president (via The Washington Post).
Trump followed up with another post attacking Fox News polling. He called the network’s poll questions “a hit job” and dismissed every answer as dishonest. He has criticized Fox’s polling methods for years when results showed Democratic strength.
The president also took aim at Fox News’s declining viewership numbers. He claimed ratings dropped 27 percent because the network covered Democrats too much. “It’s them, not me,” Trump posted, adding that his own numbers remained strong.
Trump additionally criticized political donations Fox Corporation made to Democrats and affiliated groups. He warned the network’s ratings would fall further. Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch had previously attributed rating declines to “viewer fatigue” during an earnings call. Fox News still maintains significantly higher viewership than CNN and MSNBC. However, both rival networks posted substantial gains during the same period.
Trump has long been a devoted Fox News viewer and frequently comments on programming in real time. He has also recruited Fox personalities for administration roles, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared as a paid Fox contributor during election night coverage.
