by Sharon Rondeau
(Jun. 17, 2023) — Late Saturday morning, 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump issued a series of short posts on his TruthSocial account about the Fox News Channel, an outlet he has claimed, particularly since the 2020 election, has been biased against him.
The three remarks made in succession begin with a link to an editorial at The Western Journal by Michael Schwarz, PhD, expressing the author’s observation that the cable news outlet has of late careened downward in popularity, hastened after it precipitately parted ways with its most-watched primetime host, Tucker Carlson, on April 24.
“Conservatives have long known that they are marginalized and despised in every major institution — schools, the establishment media, the entertainment industry and woke corporations,” Schwarz wrote on June 15. “Fox News once provided a refuge from this coordinated ostracization. Even when the network began showing signs of decay, at least it offered Carlson. Now, however, Fox is silencing its most truthful voices and caving to woke madness. Conservatives know where they stand with Fox and are making their exodus.”
Following his reposting of the link, Trump commented, “It’s happened, just as I predicted. The Golden Goose that was so beautiful is being slaughtered by Fools…”
He continued, without explaining the apparent allegories he invoked:
MAGA has left Fox for more promising “prairies.” Long live the King. The only solution for Fox News is to bring back Trump Allies and MAGA—Backing No Personality Ron DeSanctimonious has been a disaster….
Whether Trump sees himself as “the King” is up to the reader to decide, although many in the media interpreted it that way.
His referral to “Ron DeSanctimonious” was apparently taken from commentary by longtime acquaintance and Republican presidential adviser Roger Stone, who brought attention to DeSantis’s claim in a campaign ad that “God wanted” him to win his first gubernatorial race.
Trump has long decried what he sees as the downfall of the channel in the wake of its November 3, 2020 “call” of the state of Arizona for Joe Biden with hundreds of thousands of voters still to cast ballots, after which many of his supporters reportedly ceased to watch.
As the 2024 election cycle has unfolded, beginning with his announcement of candidacy on November 15, 2022, Trump has repeatedly expressed his dismay at what he has said is Fox’s promotion of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who Trump endorsed in 2018 and 2022 and believes made the difference in DeSantis’s victories.
As he campaigned last fall, DeSantis told Florida voters he was focused strictly on leading the state for another four years even while rumors circulated that in some circles, he was the preferred Republican candidate.
Trump’s meaning was unmistakable, however, when he concluded his thoughts with, “Fox must get smart fast before it’s too late. Only ‘TRUMP’ can save Fox News. It is in freefall!”