All posts tagged "fox news"

Republicans mock Fox News for 'embarrassing' and fawning Hegseth birthday post

Fox News posted a glowing birthday tribute to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday — complete with a saluting photo and celebratory graphics — and the mockery from conservatives was swift.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Secretary of War Pete Hegseth turns 46 today," Fox News wrote. "From serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to leading the Pentagon, Hegseth has spent decades advocating for America's warfighters and national defense."

Douglas Heye, a Republican strategist and former RNC communications director, didn't mince words in responding. "The next time I'm on Fox, I will call this out. Embarrassing." His post was reposted by Gregg Nunziata, the Republican lawyer who had already spent the day publicly criticizing Trump officials' conduct.

Jonah Goldberg, the conservative commentator and co-founder of The Dispatch who left Fox News over its 2020 election coverage, responded with a twist on the network's old slogan: "Fair, Balanced, and Unafraid. Wink."

Jay Nordlinger, a senior editor at National Review, was equally dry: "Is this the kind of thing a news network does? Manifestly (as Bill Buckley would say)."

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger replied without a word — just a photo of President Trump appearing to sleep at a Cabinet meeting.

Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson asked the obvious question: "This is from a news outlet?"

The next time I'm on Fox, I will call this out.

Embarrassing. https://t.co/VHI9N56Qka
— Douglas Heye (@DougHeye) June 7, 2026

Trump got a 'flashing red sign' with new Fox News poll: 'Big, big problem'

A new Fox News poll could signal a serious problem for President Donald Trump, CNN anchor Dana Bash reported on Thursday.

Bash referred to new polling from Fox News showing Ohio's Senate race could put Republicans in a tough position ahead of the midterm elections after Trump's approval rating has appeared to drop.

"That is a big flashing red sign for the president and for the Republicans on the ballot in this very red state of Ohio," Bash said. "This is the president's approval rating in Ohio right now. It is 42 percent, 42 percent approval. And the disapproval is 57 percent."

That's now a 15-point deficit, Bash explained.

"And then in November, the disapproval was 57 and 46 percent. And that is a 6 percent. So this is really a big, big problem potentially for the president," Bash said.

Republican incumbent Senator Jon Husted was reportedly viewed less favorably by voters compared to his Democratic challenger, former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, according to the poll.

Fox News' Jesse Watters hammered over affair as he attacks candidate: 'Sit this one out'

Fox News host Jesse Watters attacked a Democratic candidate for being unmarried — and onlookers were quick to point out that the anchor had an affair with his own producer — suggesting he might not be an authority on marriage or fidelity.

Watters was talking about Texas Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. James Talarico, who conservatives have increasingly attacked in recent days. Watters started taking personal shots at Talarico during the live broadcast on Wednesday night.

"He's also 37 and not married, let's get into this. He says, just recently, that he has a girlfriend and they've been together for four years and he called her his best friend and she was his rock, and he's not revealing her identity because he wants to respect her privacy and keep her safe during the campaign," Watters said.

"Now, if the campaign has only been going on for less than a year, and they've been dating for four years, why have we never seen this woman before?" Watters asked. "Basically what I'm saying is, does she exist? We're going to find out because if he wins, are they going to have a coming out party or is she still going to stay the secret girlfriend?"

Watters, who had an affair with Emma DiGiovine, ended up leaving his wife, Noelle Watters, and later marrying DiGiovine. People reported that during an episode of Fox News' "The Five" in 2022, Watters admitted he "let the air" out of his now wife's tires when he "was trying to get [her] to date" him.

"She couldn't go anywhere. She needed a lift, I said, 'Hey, you need a lift?' She hopped right in the car," Watters said.

The internet unleashed their thoughts on Watters immediately after his comments on Talarico.

"And you had an affair with your 20-something producer after stalking her, then left your wife and kids for her," Ally Sammarco, Democratic strategist and former Republican with more than 99,000 followers, wrote on X.

"Jesse Watters cheated on his wife and the mother of his two daughters with a Fox News producer. She divorced him and he married the producer. He should sit this one out," user Amandasmylife, a frequent anti-MAGA political commentator who has more than 20,000 followers, wrote on X.

"I just want to remind you that Watters thinks eating soup in public is effeminate. Gestures, symbols. These are for him what manliness is made of," John Stoehr, editor of the Editorial Board, wrote on X.

"I dislike Talarico for his policies. Attacking his personal life is just wrong. Especially by those throwing stones in glass houses. @JesseBWatters didn’t you have an affair with a 25-year-old associate producer at Fox when you were 38, and abandoned the mother of your twin daughters when they were just 8 years old?" Raphael Schreiber, legislative director for Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and a former member of the Conservative Partnership Institute, wrote on X.

And you had an affair with your 20-something producer after stalking her, then left your wife and kids for her so https://t.co/7yYc8WntFd
— Ally Sammarco (@Ally_Sammarco) May 28, 2026

Fox News host mocked to his face in fiery on-air exchange with candidate

Fox News host Will Cain was confronted in a fiery exchange with Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a live interview on Tuesday.

Cain had asked if progressive influencer Hasan Piker, who has campaigned and promoted El-Sayed ahead of the August 4 primary, reflects his vision.

El-Sayed then pushed back.

"My vision is one where every American can afford their basic dignities and a good life," El-Sayed said. "My vision is one where you can get healthcare when you need it, my vision is one where our government is not wasting your taxpayer dollars dropping bombs on other people's kids and instead it's investing with you and your own. So far as I share that with anybody, I share that with Hasan, I share that with you, if that's what you do believe in."

The Democrat then asked Cain a question of his own, flipping the script.

"But I do think it's kind of crazy when you have the likes of — I don't know — Donald Trump on this show," El-Sayed said. "Donald Trump who says he wants to grab people by certain body parts. Donald Trump who wants to weaponize a paramilitary force against the Constitution itself. Do you agree with everything Trump has said?"

Cain appeared surprised and angry with El-Sayed's question.

"OK, we'll move this conversation in a productive manner," Cain said, pushing back on El-Sayed's comments about Trump.

"So you asked, now let me ask you. Would you invite President Donald Trump on the stage with you?" Cain said.

"I would love to be on the stage with Donald Trump. I would debate him tooth and nail," El-Sayed said, pushing back on Cain's comments.

"You're playing a slick word game!" Cain said, appearing frustrated by El-Sayed's response.

WILL CAIN: Does Hasan Piker reflect your vision?

EL-SAYED: My vision is one where every American can afford basic dignity and a good life, where you can get healthcare when you need it, where our govt isn't wasting your taxpayer dollars dropping bombs on other people's kids. Do… pic.twitter.com/NMS9y6I8Hr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 26, 2026

Pirro won't say if gunman hit Secret Service: 'The agent did not shoot himself'

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, declined to definitively say that a gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner shot a Secret Service agent.

During a Thursday interview on Fox News, anchor Dana Perino revealed that the network's sources were told that the gunman, Cole Allen, shot an agent when he discharged his shotgun at the Washington D.C. Hilton on Saturday.

"Do you know if Cole Allen fired it or if it discharged accidentally?" Pirro asked.

"I don't think there's any question but that Cole Allen was intending to fire that Mossberg," Pirro replied. "And what we do know is that he fired off that 12-gauge shotgun one time. The cartridge was still in the weapon. He fired that gun in the direction of the Secret Service officer."

The U.S. attorney noted that one of the Secret Service officers fired his weapon five times.

"We know it based on the fact that we found five areas consistent with being hit by a 9mm," she said. "So the Secret Service agent did not shoot himself. And you've got Cole Allen going there, shooting off one round. And I don't think there's any question of what happened here."

"We're waiting for the official ballistics test, but at the same time, we filed papers in court this morning for the detention hearing today, indicating that this defendant was calculated, he was premeditated, he had every intention of killing the president and anyone who got in his way."

Busted: Fox News caught passing off Turning Point USA official as average voter in diner

Social media users quickly caught that a man interviewed for a Fox News segment as though he were a random voter was actually a leader in a major conservative group.

A Fox and Friends segment was supposed to feature the on-the-spot opinions of random diners at a Columbus, Ohio restaurant. Juliet Jeske, who runs the X account Decoding Fox News, posted on Friday that reporter Lawrence Jones was actually interviewing members of Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk.

"This is your classic Fox and Friends diner segment," Jeske said. "Lawrence Jones is supposed to be talking to everyday people."

Jones was asking diners about their impression of the recent campaign event by Vivek Ramaswamy, who's running for governor of Ohio. Fox and Friends interviewed three people, including two who were wearing Turning Point USA hats.

The other person, who identified as "Jake," answered Jones' questions about whether Republicans can win over young voters in support of Ramaswamy.

"Absolutely, they can," Jake said. "The turnout was absolutely amazing last night, and we had so many great young people that really wanted to see a better Ohio."

Although Jones walked up to him as though he were picking a random guy, Jeske said she identified him "in thirty minutes" as Jake Poling, a regional manager of Turning Point USA, through his social media, where he had pictures with Kirk.

"Vivek answered all the questions with passion and with grace," Poling continued, telling Jones. "Everybody took away a lot of great things."

Poling confirmed on Facebook that he was interviewed for the segment, writing, "a bright and early Wednesday morning representing Turning Point USA with Fox and Friends."

Still, other social media users weren't happy. The X account Bad Fox Graphics wrote, "Jake Poling’s views are his own, even if he is appearing in a suit jacket at 6:19a on @foxandfriends as a typical Columbus, OH diner while concealing his 'Christian - Committed' @TPUSA Regional Manager role."

In a classic Fox News move Lawrence Jones spoke to an employee of Turning Point USA who he tried to present as a random person in a diner. Jake Poling is a regional manager with TPUSA. Poling was NOT identified as a TPUSA employee in the segment. pic.twitter.com/pg7a65u83h
— Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) April 24, 2026

'Troubling' new sign of Trump's cognitive decline spotted in latest interview: analysis

President Donald Trump showed a troubling new sign of his mental decline in a recent Fox Business interview, a political analyst has claimed.

Michael Popok believes that Trump has struggled to get the dates and names of crucial moments from his first term in the Oval Office right, and it could be a sign that he is struggling mentally.

"Look what happens to Justice Ginsburg, she was not exactly a young woman," Trump told Maria Bartiromo. "You had a Democrat with the liberal justice, and the liberals to stick together they stick together like glue – not like the Republicans. She decided she would live forever and two minutes after the election she went out, and I got to appoint somebody."

Popok called this a sign that the president was losing his grasp on basic figures. He said, "The fact that he can't even get dates and names right is troubling. A sign of, let's be frank, mental decline.

"Let's take it this way - it wasn't like he shouldn't have been able to remember exactly when she [Ruth Bader Ginsburg] died. He gave what is considered to be one of the most famous, viral clips, when he was coming off an airplane the day she died... you think he'd remember it.

"Trump will say anything, his handlers will let him say anything. He never corrects or clarifies anything. He lives in a bubble, and he can't even get basic things right. That should've been the first seat to fill for Joe Biden, and then to cover up for that theft, they focused on 'she should've died earlier, she should've resigned earlier.'"

Trump's cognitive abilities had been called into question earlier this year by former White House doctor Jonathan Reiner. The former cardiologist to Vice President Dick Cheney believes the constant bragging of passing a cognitive test is a sign all is not well with the president.

Reiner has expressed deep skepticism about Trump's claimed MRI scan, stating it "makes no sense" and is "not plausible" as routine preventative care, suggesting the repeated cognitive testing and imaging may indicate monitoring of an existing condition rather than routine screening.

Dem clashes with Fox News host over claims Iranians support Trump's genocidal threat

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) got in a fiery exchange with Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Tuesday after she claimed that Iranians broadly support President Donald Trump's genocidal threats.

Khanna joined the conservative network's live broadcast after Trump had posted on his Truth Social platform that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran did not agree to his negotiation by 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday. He argued that Trump's comments had changed from his initial objectives for entering the Iran war and that America should not make genocidal threats that counter everything the United States stands for.

"You don't have to threaten genocide to get Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz," Khanna said. "We've lost the plot here... The president said he wanted to free the Iranian people, and now he's talking about destroying them."

But MacCallum tried to argue that it wasn't the case.

"I’ve spoken with a lot of Iranian activists who want this," she said.

Khanna pushed back on MacCallum's claims.

"They want him to threaten to wipe out 91 million people?" Khanna said. "This is not a New York real estate deal; he's the president of the United States."

Khanna: You don't have to threaten genocide to get Iran to open up the strait of hormuz. The president said he wanted to free the Iranian people and now he's talking about destroying them.

MacCallum: I’ve spoken with a lot of Iranian activists who want this.

Khanna: They want… pic.twitter.com/ZK2itgpeeX
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 7, 2026

Trump losing top Fox News ally as MAGA host warns of 'cascading problems'

President Donald Trump has apparently started to lose support from one of his loyal Fox News allies as doubts rise over his decision to continue the war against Iran, according to reports on Thursday.

Fox News host and conservative ally Laura Ingraham had a skeptical response to the Trump administration's war on Wednesday night during a live broadcast, Media Matters for America reported. Ingraham warned that as the United States escalates its military action in the Middle East, it could prompt dire and "unintended consequences." She argued that Trump and his administration should focus on America's economy and political situation.

" Iran knows it cannot win militarily, so it's using the leverage it has by prolonging the conflict," Ingraham said during her monologue leading the show. "Now, what do they want to do? They want to inflict maximum economic pain on the region, on the U.S., [on] the global economy as much as possible until they think Trump relents. But the White House doesn't seem to be blinking."

The host pointed to a clip featuring White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said during a press briefing on Wednesday that "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell."

Ingraham described why Leavitt's comments were problematic and what that could mean for not just Iran, but the region as a whole, especially as Republicans anticipate tough midterms ahead.

"Well, the problem is obviously unleashing hell means destroying infrastructure, which itself causes a series of cascading problems for the region, including maybe outside the region — political problems for the president in a midterm election year," Ingraham said.

Trump has often looked to Fox News and its voices to gain further insights and potentially influence his next moves.

"The power struggle is significant — it is not an exaggeration to suggest the course of the war might hinge on which Fox shows the president is watching," according to the outlet.

And although Ingraham could be one of the few Fox News broadcasters expressing concerns about the Iran war, her voice could carry some weight.

"Ingraham is inching toward the type of dissent that has been virtually absent from Fox’s coverage of the war, even as the broader right-wing media has split," according to Media Matters for America. "Her colleagues have played key roles in convincing Trump to attack in the first place and are pushing for risky escalations. Ingraham herself briefly quibbled with Trump’s handling of an apparent U.S. strike that leveled an Iranian school, killing scores of children, but had supported the war itself, which she declared three weeks ago that Trump had already won."

Fox admits to 'error' after burying clip of Trump wearing hat to fallen soldier ceremony

Fox News over the weekend apologized and admitted to an "error" after failing to air footage of Donald Trump wearing what some deemed a controversial choice of attire to the dignified transfer of deceased soldiers.

On Saturday, Trump came under fire for his behavior during a solemn moment in which six fallen soldiers killed in the president's onslaught against Iran were honored. The president was seen during the event standing upright while others bowed their heads. He was also wearing a white baseball cap during the typically solemn event, which was broadcast in complete silence on CNN.

Instead of playing that video for its audience, Fox News said it played an old video from a different dignified transfer. A host later apologized.

"We inadvertently aired video from an older dignified transfer instead of the ceremony that took place yesterday," he said. "We deeply regret the error."

The development was flagged by attorney and journalist Aaron Parnas , who wrote, "Fox News admits to airing an old dignified transfer video on its program this morning, one that did not show Donald Trump wearing a white ball cap."