In a recent development, Rupert Murdoch’s departure as the chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp has stirred speculation about the future dynamics between former President Donald Trump and Fox News as the 2024 election campaign gains momentum, according to insights from a former Trump adviser and Republican strategists.
The once-cozy relationship between Trump and Fox News soured in the aftermath of the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill riot, which was instigated by Trump supporters. These events led to a breakdown in the mutually beneficial partnership that had existed for years. Notably, Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems in April, agreeing to pay a hefty $787.5 million over its amplification of Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud—a settlement that legal experts believe to be the largest ever struck by an American media company.
With Rupert Murdoch’s son, Lachlan Murdoch, taking on the role of sole chairman of News Corp while continuing as the chair and CEO of Fox, questions have arisen regarding potential changes in Fox’s political coverage in the run-up to the 2024 Republican primaries and the presidential election. Fox News maintains its position as the leading U.S. cable news network, wielding significant influence in American politics. While Republicans value its conservative-leaning audience, critics accuse the network of bias and contributing to the polarization of U.S. politics.
Donald Trump currently holds a dominant position as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Should he secure the nomination, he would face President Biden in the November 2024 general election. Commenting on Lachlan Murdoch’s appointment, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean remarked, “This provides an opportunity for a reset between President Trump and the Fox News network.” However, the key question remains: Does Lachlan Murdoch desire a positive relationship with the former President, or does he prefer to wait and see how events unfold?
Fox News has not yet responded to inquiries about its political coverage under Lachlan Murdoch’s leadership. While Trump has made occasional appearances on the network, he has not issued a statement regarding Rupert Murdoch’s departure at the time of writing.
Jason Osborne, an adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign, expressed hope that Fox executives, including Lachlan Murdoch, would work to increase coverage of Trump, potentially mending ties between both sides. He emphasized the importance of regaining viewers who shifted to smaller, right-wing cable networks like Newsmax and One America News Network after Fox more assertively challenged Trump’s unfounded election claims in 2021.
Fox had been a staunch supporter of Trump throughout his successful 2016 White House campaign and during his tenure as President. This symbiotic relationship contributed to boosting both Trump’s ratings and political standing, as noted by Larry Stuelpnagel, an associate professor of journalism and political science at Northwestern University.
While some experts believe that Fox’s coverage of Trump may not return to the levels seen in 2016, indications suggest that Lachlan Murdoch is not inherently anti-Trump. As Trump continues to lead the Republican field, it is expected that Fox News will maintain a high volume of coverage related to him.
During the Dominion litigation, internal documents revealed Lachlan Murdoch’s instructions to Fox News executives to temper their critical coverage of Trump following the 2020 election loss. Analysts speculate that these instructions might have been driven by momentary considerations, such as ratings, rather than indicating a long-term vision for how Trump would be covered.
Democratic strategist Karen Finney expressed skepticism that Fox News would fundamentally alter its approach to Trump, characterizing the network’s coverage as persistently featuring misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Stuelpnagel suggested that the substantial cost of the Dominion lawsuit could prompt Lachlan Murdoch to approach Trump coverage cautiously, saying, “The Dominion lawsuit cost them dearly. I think Lachlan is going to be more cautious in how he deals with Trump. I don’t see a wholesale change in the direction of the network.”
This evolving relationship between Trump and Fox News is expected to remain a focal point of political analysis as the 2024 election cycle unfolds.
Disclaimer : The content of this page is written by an independent third party. theworldsaga does not endorse the opinions expressed. theworldsaga is not responsible in any way for the contents of this site. theworldsaga cannot guarantee or endorse them. Take all necessary steps to ensure that the information provided and any content is accurate, up-to-date, and verifiable. theworldsaga disclaims all express and implied warranties relating to this report or its content.