Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:09 pm
Fox News was clearly out to destroy Donald Trump at the Republican debate, but they failed. Here is what Fox News tried to do to Trump, and why it all went wrong.
Fox News made their intentions clear when the first question of the debate was a show of hands about pledging not to run as an Independent. Fox was trying to isolate Trump and ruin him with Republican voters.
Later came the Trump/Megyn Kelly exchange that demonstrated Republican voters love them some sexism.
Video of Kelly and Trump:
Transcript of Kelly and Trump:
KELLY: Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women.
You’ve called women you don’t like “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.”
(LAUGHTER)
Your Twitter account…
TRUMP: Only Rosie O’Donnell.
(LAUGHTER)
KELLY: No, it wasn’t.
(APPLAUSE)
Your Twitter account…
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Thank you.
KELLY: For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell.
TRUMP: Yes, I’m sure it was.
KELLY: Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?
TRUMP: I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct.
(APPLAUSE)
I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody.
And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.
The Republican audience laughed at Trump’s sexism, and he got loads of applause for attacking “political correctness.”
Chris Wallace tried to undermine Trump’s record in business by bringing up his bankruptcies:
https://youtu.be/uIjDwZi9Dy8
The Wallace/Trump exchange ended in more laughter and applause for Trump.
It was clear that Fox News was targeting Trump, and the orders came from Fox management. Roger Ailes is desperate for a 2016 Republican win, and the establishment views Trump as destroying their party.
In the most classless way possible, Trump unloaded on Megyn Kelly after the debate on Twitter:
Wow, @megynkelly really bombed tonight. People are going wild on twitter! Funny to watch.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
"@timjcam: @megynkelly @FrankLuntz @realDonaldTrump Fox viewers give low marks to bimbo @MegynKelly will consider other programs!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
Trump also unloaded on perpetually losing Republican messaging guru Frank Luntz for his panel that gave the billionaire a bad review:
.@FrankLuntz is a low class slob who came to my office looking for consulting work and I had zero interest. Now he picks anti-Trump panels!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
Immediate polling after the debate revealed that Trump was the clear winner:
#GOPDebate Winner!
Drudge 50% (187K) @realDonaldTrump
TIME 46% (25K) @realDonaldTrump
FOXSD 49% @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ZPbATYsRC1
— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) August 7, 2015
Fox News had a plan to derail Trump, but they failed because Donald Trump understands who their audience is better than they do. A large percentage of the Fox News audience agrees with the bigotry, sexism, and racism that Trump advocates. Republicans are drawn to his everyone is stupid but us rhetoric because that is what FOX NEWS has told them for years. Trump is in part a Fox News creation, and he has turned the network’s own audience against them.
Ailes and Murdoch made a gigantic mistake by going after Trump, and they just may have made the campaign that they were trying to destroy even stronger.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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