Fox News Host Urges Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to Step Aside and Endorse Trump
The once strong relationship between Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Fox News appears to be deteriorating. Fox News host Laura Ingraham recently urged DeSantis to “step aside and endorse Trump,” a move that was met with mockery and derision by two of the governor’s most prominent aides.
Christina Pushaw, the campaign’s rapid response director, questioned why DeSantis would take advice from the opposing campaign, while Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis’s spokesman in the governor’s office, insinuated that Fox News was biased.
The tension between DeSantis and Fox News escalated when the governor accused the network of bias toward former President Donald J. Trump. DeSantis claimed that conservative media outlets, including Fox, acted as a “Praetorian Guard” for Trump, suggesting that they were more concerned about ratings than holding the former president accountable. His campaign manager even went as far as to call Fox “full-blown Trump TV.”
Despite the apparent ill feelings toward Fox, DeSantis continued to make appearances on the network, though he expressed regret for not engaging with news outlets beyond Fox News earlier in his campaign.
In retrospect, political experts and strategists have criticized DeSantis’s handling of press relations, suggesting that his antagonistic posture towards the media amplified his weaknesses as a candidate and hindered his ability to reach a broader audience.
When planning his run for president, DeSantis may have miscalculated the staying power of Trump within the Republican electorate. While the governor was enjoying hours of Fox News coverage, Trump’s absence from the network was relatively short-lived, as a series of criminal indictments helped propel his popularity within the Republican Party once again.
However, DeSantis was still featured on Fox News, including a one-on-one debate with Gov. Gavin Newsom of California that drew an impressive 5.4 million viewers. Yet, when the caucuses rolled around, Trump once again took the spotlight on the network.
The rift between DeSantis and Fox News may have significant implications for his candidacy as the race for the Republican nomination heats up.
Historical Context:
The dynamic between Fox News and Gov. Ron DeSantis has shifted as the governor’s relationship with the network deteriorates. DeSantis once relied on Fox News for favorable coverage but has now turned against the network, accusing it of bias and expressing regret for not engaging with a broader range of media outlets earlier in his campaign.
The tension between DeSantis and Fox News calls into question the impact of the network’s coverage on political candidates and raises concerns about media bias in the political landscape.
As DeSantis continues to navigate his presidential campaign, his handling of press relations and media engagement will be closely scrutinized, with potential implications for his candidacy in the Republican primary.
In conclusion, the changing dynamic between DeSantis and Fox News underscores the complex relationship between political candidates and media outlets, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities inherent in campaign coverage and press relations.