Former President Trump accused “Fox & Friends,” said to be his favorite Fox News program, of going over to the “dark side” after the hosts downplayed his recent 2024 straw poll victory over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
SO WHAT
Are Fox News and the rest of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire going to war with Trump?
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump alleged in a Truth Social post that “Fox & Friends” hosts Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt had “botched” their discussion of the straw poll conducted over the weekend at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida.
“[Fox & Friends] has been terrible – gone to the ‘dark side.’ They quickly quote the big Turning Point Poll victory of almost 60 points over the number two Republican, and then hammer me with outliers. Actually, almost all polls have me leading all Republicans & Biden BY A LOT,” wrote Trump, who spoke Saturday at the Turning Point conference.
- During the segment, Doocy said he viewed the Turning Point straw poll “a little different than a couple of other polls that we have seen over the last couple of weeks two.”
- “Weeks ago in Florida, Blueprint polling did a poll, DeSantis leads the former president in all age groupings,” Doocy said.
THE NUMBERS
The Blueprint Polling survey, released earlier this month, showed DeSantis with a 12-point lead over Trump among Florida Republicans.
- 79% of Turning Point USA summit attendees said they would vote for Trump in 2024, compared to 19% who preferred DeSantis.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Amid murmurings that Trump’s influence on the right may be starting to wane, the former president has reportedly begun to question Fox News’ affinity.
- Trump has been tracking which of the network’s personalities are for him and which are against, Rolling Stone reported Tuesday.
- Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, part of Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, raised eyebrows by both publishing editorials Friday condemning Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
OK, BUT
While DeSantis has emerged as Trump’s top 2024 challenger, polling leaves no doubt that most Republican voters remain loyal to the former president.
- Last week’s Maryland primary squashed any doubt that Trump still has political juice: His endorsee, Dan Cox, trounced Kelly Schulz, who was backed by Trump-nemesis outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
