Former President Donald Trump has directed his ire towards Fox News once again, this time in response to a CNN report suggesting that he might opt to skip the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate hosted by the network. In a characteristic outburst on his newly established social media platform, Truth Social, Trump lamented the perceived bias and shortcomings he attributes to Fox News.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump questioned Fox News’ coverage of polls that allegedly show him leading against President Biden by a significant margin. He accused the network of selectively omitting these poll results, alluding to a deliberate attempt to undermine his standing. Trump’s discontent extended to the visuals chosen for his portrayal, singling out an unflattering image of himself as a prime example. He alleged that Fox News deliberately opts for unfavorable images, particularly the infamous ‘orange’ picture, implying a conscious effort to misrepresent him.
CNN reported that Trump has no intentions of participating in the upcoming Republican primary debate, marking a notable shift from previous election cycles. Instead, he is reportedly considering alternative strategies, such as calling into other cable shows during the debate or engaging in a one-on-one interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who departed from the network earlier in the year.
“Why doesn’t Fox and Friends show all of the Polls where I am beating Biden, by a lot. They just won’t do it!” complained the miffed Trump on Truth Social. “Also, they purposely show the absolutely worst pictures of me, especially the big ‘orange’ one with my chin pulled way back. They think they are getting away with something, they’re not. Just like 2016 all over again…And then they want me to debate!”
Throughout 2023, Trump has been vocal about his grievances against Fox News, attributing a decline in the network’s ratings to their alleged failure to align with his narrative. He contends that Fox News avoids discussing matters such as the purportedly rigged presidential election and dismisses the term “Trump” and “TRUTH” in their broadcasts. In Trump’s perspective, this perceived bias alienates his substantial base of supporters.
Trump’s strained relationship with Fox News reached a boiling point during a June interview with Bret Baier, the chief political correspondent. Trump labeled the network as “hostile” and questioned the wisdom of subjecting himself to critical scrutiny. He challenged the notion of participating in the debate, asserting that he sees no reason to subject himself to adversarial questioning.
