Donald Trump really has to screw up for Fox News to turn on him. We saw it happen earlier this month after Trump’s press conference with Vladimir Putin. That was such a treasonous disaster that a number of hosts on Fox News hosts went on air to publicly condemn him for it.
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And yesterday Trump and his team did something else that made Fox News again decide they could not support the president. As we reported:
“CNN’s Kaitlan Collins posed questions to Trump that were related to Michael Cohen and Russia. For asking these questions, Bill Shine and Sarah Huckabee Sanders banned her from the Trump event on trade with the president of the European Commission.”
This led many reporters and news agencies to slam Trump for such disgraceful treatment of a reporter. White House Correspondents Association President Oliver Knox condemned the treatment of Collins. Jake Tapper from CNN called it “absolutely disgraceful behavior.” Other news outlets agreed, with Steven Portnoy of CBS News called it a “stunning outrage.”
Hallie Jackson of NBC News Retweeted Tapper and wrote:
“If the White House banned a fellow reporter from an open-press event because of her shouted questions, let’s be clear: it is inexcusable, unacceptable, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”
“We shout questions at the president regularly. It’s called: doing our job.”
If the White House banned a fellow reporter from an open-press event because of her shouted questions, let's be clear: it is inexcusable, unacceptable, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent.
We shout questions at the president regularly. It's called: doing our job. https://t.co/rrZiiLMjkg
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) July 25, 2018
All of this is not surprising. What is surprising is that Fox News joined the chorus of news organizations condemning Trump and his press team.
Fox News reporter Bret Baier has been very supportive of Trump but yesterday’s events made Baier decide that he’d had enough. First Baier tweeted:
“As a member of the White House Press pool – Fox News stands firmly with CNN on this issue and the issue of access.”
As a member of the White House Press pool- @FoxNews stands firmly with @CNN on this issue and the issue of access https://t.co/TFwfLQtP9h
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) July 25, 2018
Baier then went on the Fox News show Special Report Wednesday evening and read a statement, saying:
“This decision to bar a member of the press is retaliatory in nature and not indicative of an open and free press. We demand better.”
After catching flak from right-wing social media trolls Baier posted additional tweets further solidifying his support for CNN.
“When President Obama’s administration left us out of round robin interviews — CNN and @jaketapper spoke out for us. As a member of the WH press pool – on the news side – that’s what is supposed to happen.”
When President Obama’s administration left us out of round robin interviews — CNN and @jaketapper spoke out for us. As a member of the WH press pool – on the news side – that’s what is supposed to happen. https://t.co/cDci9VUxJP
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) July 26, 2018
Then, as the attacks on him got worse, he tweeted:
“Sorry you feel that way. They are members of the WH press pool. Kaitlan was doing what pool reporters do. We stand for access for WH reporters-no matter what you think about their coverage. Again -no Reagan supporter loved Sam Donaldson-but he was there-always.”
Sorry you feel that way. They are members of the WH press pool. Kaitlan was doing what pool reporters do. We stand for access for WH reporters-no matter what you think about their coverage. Again -no Reagan supporter loved Sam Donaldson-but he was there-always. https://t.co/X8Oa7IQT6z
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) July 26, 2018
Yesterday was a bad press day for Trump, as we also reported:
“Things are so bad for Trump that he ran away from reporters asking questions after a White House event with the president of the European Commission.”
Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro of Fox News will never turn on Donald Trump but that doesn’t mean the entire organization supports everything the president does. Already twice this month Fox News has criticized the president very heavily for his outrageous behavior. This is a sure sign that Donald Trump is going over the edge.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
