Donald Trump is lashing out at media outlets, including Fox News, as he faces shrinking rally crowds and declining poll numbers.
Donald Trump is increasingly targeting members of the media. including Fox News. as his campaign rallies see shrinking attendance and his political standing faces downward pressure. While the former president has long used rallies as a primary indicator of his political influence. recent events in Alabama. Ohio. Oklahoma. and Texas have shown empty seats. prompting Trump to blame the press for the unfavorable coverage.
Trump criticized Fox News on Truth Social for its limited coverage of his recent rallies. threatening the network with potential ratings failure if it does not provide more favorable reporting. He specifically demanded to know who was responsible for the firing of former host Maria Bartiromo and accused the network of forcing Democratic viewpoints onto his supporters. Despite his claims that his rallies are “hotter” than ever. the network has generally opted to show clips or reports on his events rather than airing his speeches in their entirety.
Host Sean Hannity remains an exception, having aired 36 minutes of a recent Oklahoma rally. However, industry analysis suggests that Fox News has concluded these rallies are no longer the “ratings magnet” they once were. This shift in coverage has accompanied a broader decline in Trump’s political metrics; a recent NBC News/Telemundo poll indicated his approval among Latino voters is at 27%. a figure he dismissed as “fake news” during an exchange with a CNN reporter.
The friction extends to the White House press corps. The administration has barred POLITICO from traveling on Air Force One after previously removing CNN from the presidential plane. These actions are currently the subject of a legal challenge, with federal Judge Timothy J. Kelly scheduled to hear arguments this Thursday regarding the administration’s attempt to block certain outlets from the White House. The Justice Department has argued for the reinstatement of these bans. citing the use of anonymous sources. despite the White House’s own habit of conducting background briefings under similar conditions.
The pressure to maintain the image of an unstoppable political movement comes as external data paints a more difficult picture. One month before the midterm elections. the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added six more candidates to its “Red to Blue” list. targeting districts that Trump won by an average of 16 points or more in 2024.
Donald Trump Fox News Trump rallies media coverage political campaigns midterm elections