Republican senator and Trump ally Roger Marshall calls out Fox News and Newsmax for causing MAGA division: ‘They make my parents mad’
Sen. Roger Marshall criticized Fox News and Newsmax for fueling divisions within the Republican Party, arguing that the conservative networks are contributing to ideological purity tests among GOP voters.
Roger Marshall calls out MAGA ‘purity test’
Marshall, a close ally of President Donald Trump, made the remarks during an interview on the “13th & Park” podcast produced by the Washington lobbying firm Ballard Partners.
“The job of the national media, what they do is make my parents mad,” Marshall said.
“They sit home and they watch Fox News and Newsmax, and guess what? They’re mad at me, they’re mad at [Majority Leader] John Thune, they’re mad at Mitch McConnell — there’s this purity test,” he continued.
“I feel this anger more than ever before,” the Republican from Kansas concluded.
Semafor media editor Max Tani described the comments as unusual for a Republican lawmaker, noting that GOP officials typically seek favorable coverage from Fox News. He also pointed out that Marshall appeared on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo later the same day.
In-fighting over Iran
Marshall’s remarks come weeks after he drew criticism from Fox News host Mark Levin over comments made during a CNN appearance. Levin said Marshall appeared to accept that Iran should possess ballistic missiles.
“The insanity of those defending parts of the MOU, or major matters left out of this MOU, is truly stunning,” Levin wrote on X.
“Roger Marshall is a senator from Kansas. He argues that the Iranian terror regime, which has killed and maimed thousands of Americans, funded terrorism around the world, and tried to assassinate our president and his daughter Ivanka [Trump], needs ballistic missiles ‘to be able to defend themselves.’ This man should never be elected dogcatcher,” he continued. “I will add that the fact that ballistic missiles are not included in this MOU is an outrage.”