Trump Criticizes Fox News for Coverage of Political Opponents

President Donald Trump expressed discontent with Fox News on Tuesday, accusing the network of providing airtime to opponents of Republican candidates. His criticisms particularly targeted coverage of Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn.

In two posts on Truth Social, Trump argued that Fox News favored political opponents and did not adequately highlight Republican candidates or his rallies. This underscores the ongoing tensions between Trump and Fox News, a major network among Republican audiences.

When contacted for comments on Tuesday, the White House directed Newsweek to Trump’s Truth Social posts. Newsweek also sought responses from Fox News, Osborn, El-Sayed, and Senator Pete Ricketts via email.

The dispute unfolds as candidates from both parties are in the final stages of preparation for the 2026 midterm elections, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. The Senate race in Michigan is crucial, attracting significant attention from both sides.

Trump specifically criticized Fox anchor Martha MacCallum’s interview with El-Sayed, calling it a “softball interview.” Trump expressed dissatisfaction, saying Fox emphasized “Jihadist and Dumocrat candidates” while neglecting traditional Republican candidates.

El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, secured the Democratic nomination for the open Senate seat in Michigan after defeating former Representative Haley Stevens. He faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.

Polls suggest a competitive race, with various surveys showing both candidates closely matched. A recent Fox News survey found El-Sayed leading Rogers 50 to 49 percent among likely voters, while a Trafalgar Group poll reported a 47 to 45 percent lead for El-Sayed. Other polls, including those from Marist University and Big Data Poll, have given El-Sayed a wider margin.

Trump’s complaints extend beyond the coverage of El-Sayed. He criticized Fox News for a detailed interview with Osborn, labeling him a “sleazebag” and questioning the network’s decision to allocate significant airtime to the independent candidate.

Trump argued that left-leaning media does not extend similar coverage to Republican candidates and accused Fox of ignoring his rallies and accomplishments. These posts are part of Trump’s ongoing critique of Fox, despite the network being a prominent platform for conservative politicians.

During the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Trump accused Fox News of favoring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his primary rival. In a Truth Social post from June 2023, Trump stated that “FOX should embrace MAGA” and claimed the network preferred DeSantis over him.

Trump has also challenged Fox’s polling, arguing their surveys underestimate his support. He labeled Fox’s polls “the worst in the whole business” after unfavorable results emerged concerning his voter support.

Additionally, Trump has previously clashed with Fox personalities, including former anchor Chris Wallace, following interviews and Wallace’s moderation of the first 2020 presidential debate.