President Donald Trump expressed discontent with Fox News during a series of posts on Truth Social, attributing Republican losses in the recent midterm elections to the network. Traditionally a supporter of Fox, Trump criticized its coverage, stating in one post that it "bears responsibility for these losses by constantly and consistently putting on the Dumocrat opposition." The Democratic Party gained control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, achieving victories in states traditionally aligned with Republicans, including Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas.
Trump also highlighted a significant decline in Fox’s viewership, noting a 27% drop in ratings and suggesting that viewers have left the network due to its increased focus on Democratic narratives. "Fox News Ratings are way down because they’re spending too much time covering the Trump Deranged Dumocrats! It’s them, not me," he said.
Fox News counters that the decline in viewership is reflective of general "viewer fatigue" common in midterm election cycles, rather than a migration to competitor channels. Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch mentioned that viewers are not switching to networks like MS NOW or CNN, but rather watching less TV overall, a trend noted alongside a report of a strong quarter for the company with a 22% revenue increase year-over-year.
While Fox experienced a year-over-year drop in viewership, its revenue was bolstered by strong political advertising and the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Despite Trump’s criticism, Fox maintains a solid market position, retaining higher average viewership than its competitors.
Why this story matters
- Highlights the shifting dynamics within media and political relationships.
Key takeaway
- Trump’s discontent with Fox News signals potential challenges for the network among its base.
Opposing viewpoint
- Fox management attributes viewership decline to broader viewer fatigue, rather than a loss of audience to competitors.
