REJECTED: Trump gets an unexpected response to Fox News interview

REJECTED: Trump gets an unexpected response to Fox News interview

Once the darling of Fox News, Donald Trump’s heavily-promoted interview with longtime ally Sean Hannity on Monday fell flat, averaging only 358,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic, dealing another blow for the presidential hopeful.

Trump’s first appearance on Fox News in six months averaged 3 million viewers across all demographics, according to Nielsen, which wasn’t enough to beat two of Fox News’ most popular shows in the ratings — Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Five — which garnered 441,000 and 741,000 respectively in the key 25-54 demo.

Network executives at Fox News implemented a “soft ban” on the former President in September 2022 in an effort to move past the 2024 presidential candidate in favor of his lesser-known rivals

“It’s certainly – however you want to say, quiet ban, soft ban, whatever it is – indicative of how the Murdochs feel about Trump in this particular moment,” a source close to Trump said, according to Semafor.

“The understanding is that they’re [Fox News] not to have Trump on for an interview because the Murdochs have made it pretty clear they want to move on from Trump,” added a GOP operative.

It’s no secret that the ex-President is sensitive when it comes to his popularity — or lack thereof.

Some Republicans have been critical of Trump’s continued focus on the 2020 election, and denounce his public attacks on Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) who’s rumored to be a front-runner for the GOP nomination.

“I hope at some point, Donald Trump does flip to the future instead of dwelling on the past,” guest Miranda Devine told Laura Ingraham. “He looks like someone who is full of grievance and anger,” she added.

Devine pointed out the lukewarm reception the former President got at his most recent campaign rally in Waco, Texas when telling a story about his endorsement of DeSantis for governor in 2018.

“They don’t like it,” Ingraham chimed in.

Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)  ripped into Trump’s appearance on Hannity, calling it “horrific.”

“He complained that you know, somebody he had endorsed was now running against him,” Chaffetz said on Fox and Friends. “It was the worst interview I’ve seen the president do. He was whining. He was complaining. He played the victim card. Time and time again.”  

Once in lock-step, the Republican Party is breaking into warring factions.

While the hard-core MAGA base hasn’t given up on their leader, DeSantis has the backing of big-money GOP donors and establishment Republicans who have grown weary of Trump’s fixation on revenge.

With a potential indictment pending, Trump’s legal troubles are offputting for those looking at the future of the party.

“He’s the former president of the United States. Act like it. He didn’t in that interview,” Chaffetz added.

Original reporting by Justin Baragona at The Daily Beast and Shelby Talcott and Max Tani at Semafor

Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick

Ty Ross

News journalist for Washington Press and Occupy Democrats.