President Donald Trump has launched another blistering attack against Fox News, accusing the network of promoting Democrats as tensions escalate within the Republican Party just two weeks before the November midterm elections.
Trump took aim at the conservative news network Monday morning, October 19, arguing that its coverage has increasingly favored Democratic politicians and their political arguments over Republican candidates.
“Fox spends more time defending Dumocrats, and putting on their views versus their Republican opponent, than at any time in the history of Fox News. It’s ridiculous!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president accused Fox News of becoming overly concerned with political correctness and encouraged supporters to watch his upcoming campaign rally in Kansas through an alternative conservative broadcaster.
“Fox News is trying too hard to be politically correct!” Trump declared, directing viewers to Right Side Broadcasting Network.
His latest criticism came as he prepared to campaign in Wichita for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces a closely contested reelection battle against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
The public confrontation is the latest in a series of attacks Trump has directed at Fox News since late September.
On September 30, Trump questioned why the network regularly featured prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and political commentator Jessica Tarlov.
Days later, he criticized Fox & Friends for failing to provide sufficient coverage of his rally in Vandalia, Ohio.
Trump argued that the network had devoted more airtime to Democratic and left-wing political figures than to his campaign appearances.
The criticism intensified October 6 when the president accused Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum of conducting a favorable interview with Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
He also attacked Nebraska independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
“Fox is promoting the Dumocrats, not the Republicans and MAGA,” Trump wrote.
“They have totally lost their way!”
The confrontation comes amid troubling polling numbers for Republicans as they attempt to maintain control of Congress.
A Fox News survey released last week placed Trump’s approval rating at 36%, with 64% of voters disapproving of his performance.
The same poll showed Democrats holding a nine-point advantage over Republicans in congressional preferences.
A separate Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey released Sunday placed Trump’s approval rating at 33%, with 66% disapproving.
The political uncertainty has fueled disagreements among Republican lawmakers, strategists and campaign officials over responsibility for the party’s struggles.
House Republicans have criticized the Senate’s handling of competitive races, while some senators have privately blamed Trump’s declining approval ratings for creating difficulties among vulnerable candidates.
New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew acknowledged the growing tensions while discussing the possibility of significant electoral losses.
“If it happens, there will be plenty of blame to go around,” Van Drew said.
The dispute has also centered on campaign spending.
Republicans have reportedly directed nearly $200 million toward supporting Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, whose unexpectedly competitive race against Democrat James Talarico has consumed substantial resources.
Trump has already warned that he would blame Republican figures John Cornyn and Karl Rove if Paxton loses.
Meanwhile, retiring Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon has suggested that Trump’s unfavorable ratings are creating problems for Republican candidates.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has criticized the National Republican Congressional Committee, questioning whether party leaders are prioritizing internal political ambitions over winning elections, per the Daily Mail.
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy (R) has also criticized Senate campaign consultants and indicated that he intends to spend millions from his own campaign funds supporting competitive races.
Despite the internal disagreements, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott has expressed confidence in the party’s ability to retain its Senate majority.
With Election Day approaching, Trump’s increasingly public feud with Fox News has added another dimension to the disagreements surrounding Republican campaign strategy.
The president continues to accuse the network of providing excessive attention to Democrats, while members of his own party debate how to address unfavorable polling and increasingly expensive Senate contests.
Whether the disputes will affect Republican turnout or campaign strategy remains uncertain as voters prepare to head to the polls on November 3.
