Republicans’ Support For Fox News Plunged After Election Day, Poll Finds

Topline

Many Republicans have dropped their support of Fox News since Election Day, a new Morning Consult poll finds, as President Donald Trump has rallied his supporters against the network and increasingly aligned himself with fringe networks like One America News (OAN) in the wake of Fox’s early call that Joe Biden won Arizona on election night.

Key Facts

Key Background

Fox News has been viewed as Trump’s most important media ally and messenger for his policies throughout his presidency, with major anchors like Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Jeanine Pirro and Laura Ingraham closely aligning themselves with the Trump administration. Though the network has continued to support the president since the election, it has showed some signs of pushing back against Trump’s ongoing refusal to concede the election and his campaign’s attempt to overthrow Biden’s win: Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade said “it’s in the country’s best interest” for the Trump administration to start coordinating with the Biden transition team, for instance, and a Fox News anchor openly criticized Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani’s press conference on the campaign’s legal efforts Thursday, saying it was “light on facts” and that “so much of what [Giuliani] said was not true.” Carlson also pushed back against baseless conspiracy theories espoused during the press conference by Trump advisor Sidney Powell on his program Thursday night, criticizing Powell for refusing to provide Carlson and his team with any evidence that would back up her claims.

What To Watch For

Trump is reportedly considering launching his own media company to compete with Fox News after he leaves the White House, Axios reported Nov. 12. The offering would reportedly take the form of a subscription-based digital streaming channel online, rather than a pricier cable television network, but Trump “aim[s] to replace” Fox as his supporters’ “top destination” for news, Axios reports.

Further Reading

Fox News’ Popularity Slips Among Republicans in Wake of Election (Morning Consult)

Trump Is Now Trashing Fox News. Here’s What May Be His Ulterior Motive. (Forbes)

On Trump’s New Favorite TV Channels, The Election Rages On (Forbes)

Scoop: Trump eyes digital media empire to take on Fox News (Axios)

Fox’s Arizona Call for Biden Flipped the Mood at Trump Headquarters (New York Times)