The President of the United States, Donald Trump, blamed Fox News for the defeats suffered by the Republican Party in the midterm elections and criticized former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for appearing on the network's programming. The President accused the channel of repeatedly giving air time to voices from the Democratic opposition.
"Why does Fox News have Bill de Blasio, the worst mayor in the history of New York City, on air, ranting like a lunatic?", Trump wrote in a post on his official Truth Social account. The president argued that De Blasio had left the city "in disgrace" and that the damage caused by his administration was "incalculable," before criticizing him for now weighing in on how to govern the United States.
The most direct accusation came at the end of his message: «Fox News is responsible for these defeats for constantly featuring the Democratic opposition on air, and worse things». Trump concluded his post with a «God bless the United States!» and his signature as president.
The disqualifications directed at the former mayor are opinions of Trump, not established facts. The president also did not provide data to conclude that the selection of guests by Fox News was a cause of the Republican electoral defeats.
The attack against Bill de Blasio
Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, served as the mayor of New York City from January 2014 to December 2021. His administration was the subject of controversies, particularly regarding issues like public safety, the functioning of municipal government, and its response to the pandemic. However, the assertion that he was the "worst mayor" of the city is a political judgment from the president.
Trump specifically criticized Fox News for giving De Blasio space to comment on national issues, but his message did not specify which program, intervention, or statement he was referring to. The post also does not clarify which comments from the former mayor prompted his reaction.
The clash has an additional nuance: Fox News maintains an editorial line and an audience generally associated with American conservatism, although Democratic commentators also participate in its news programs and analysis panels. For Trump, this presence is a point of reproach, especially after his party's setbacks at the polls.
Trump had already attacked the polls and commentators from Fox News
The new message extends a series of criticisms from the president directed at the network during the electoral day of November 3 and the following early morning. Hours earlier, Trump had launched an attack on Fox News polls, accusing them of asking biased questions against him. CiberCuba reported on his harsh statements against the surveys published by the channel.
The president also personally attacked Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic commentator and strategist who appears on programs on the network, and announced that he would stop watching her while she was on screen. His message was reported by TheWrap, which also documented his criticisms of the audience and the airtime given to Democrats by Fox News.
An analysis by Axios published on November 4 also described how Trump's criticisms of Fox News intensified during election night, despite the political closeness he has historically maintained with some of its programming and figures.
A chain of blame following the Republican setback
The new accusation against Fox News adds to other explanations given by Trump as the results emerged. He first claimed that Republicans would have achieved a sweeping victory if he had appeared on the ballots himself, a statement that contrasted with his repeated campaign calls to vote as if he were a candidate. CiberCuba gathered those statements and the context of his campaign.
Afterward, the president blamed the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, for his own defeat against the Democrat Gina Hinojosa and referred to him as a "RINO," or "Republican in Name Only," despite having previously supported his candidacy.
He also announced that he would take on the role of “political commentator” to explain, in his own words, the reasons why candidates had won or lost. His messages portray a sequence of reactions in which the president scrutinizes Republican contenders and questions media outlets he considers unfavorable to his party.
The elections on Tuesday, November 3, resulted in significant Democratic gains. The projections about the control of the Senate indicated a new Democratic majority, while the House of Representatives also came under the control of that party, according to projected results shared by various media outlets. The final tally of votes and the certification of the contests is the responsibility of the electoral authorities.
In that context, attributing the defeat to the presence of democratic voices on television is a political explanation put forth by Trump, not a conclusion supported by electoral data. Voters, according to exit polls gathered by national media, indicated that their concerns included the cost of living and the state of the economy, issues that were significant throughout much of the campaign.
The evolution of the results, especially in Florida and the districts in the southern part of the state, can be followed in the .
Related videos:
Filed under: