It's not exactly easy to top Donald Trump in terms of repulsive behavior. But Fox News achieved exactly that on Tuesday as the network aired the former president's post-arraignment remarks from his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf course.
"WANNABE DICTATOR SPEAKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AFTER HAVING HIS POLITICAL RIVAL ARRESTED."
Yep, that's the chyron that appeared during a split-screen broadcast of Trump's speech and President Joe Biden, who had been speaking at a reception at the White House. As my colleague Abigail Weinberg said in a pitch-perfect post on the hideousness of that message:
The moment was egregious on many levels, and not just because Biden is, despite Fox’s best efforts, a democratically elected leader whose powers are limited by the legislative and judicial branches. There is no evidence that Biden had anything to do with Trump’s arrest. Federal prosecutors brought evidence to a grand jury, which determined that there was enough evidence to support charges against Trump—standard procedure for federal cases. For a network with “News” in its title to broadcast an outright lie is appalling. But even more concerning is the hint of the type of tactics right-wing media are likely to deploy as the presidential race continues. Why dive into the complexities of a complicated indictment when you can paint it as a politically motivated hit and call it a day?
I truly mean it when I say that not much about Trump, the conservative media, or the GOP shocks me anymore. But seeing that air on live television managed to do just that. Now, could this be the work of a rogue employee? Well, New York Times political reporter Ken Bensinger reached out to Fox News about the chyron alert and received a surprising response that, seen in perhaps a generous light, could suggest the possibility of it.
Yet it happened. Millions of Fox News viewers saw it. Unless a full-blown on-air apology happens, it doesn't matter if a rogue staffer is to blame or if the network regrets it.
—Inae Oh