In a not-so-surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize Fox News, the network that will be hosting the upcoming Republican National Committee’s first primary debate. Trump used his preferred platform, Truth Social (because apparently one social media site isn’t enough for him), to air his grievances with the network.
First, he complained that Fox News doesn’t show all the polls where he is supposedly beating Biden by a lot. Because, you know, Trump just loves to boast about how amazing he is even when the numbers might not support his claims. And of course, he couldn’t resist mentioning how Fox News purposely uses unflattering photos of him, like the infamous “big orange” one. It must be tough for the former president to see himself accurately represented on television.
But wait, there’s more! Trump also took a swing at former Attorney General Bill Barr, calling him “slow thinking and lethargic.” Apparently, Barr wasn’t aggressive enough in fighting the “Radical Left lunatics” or tackling the issue of election fraud (which, by the way, has been repeatedly debunked). Trump just couldn’t resist taking a dig at someone who didn’t give him unwavering loyalty.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/110904845212218957
In typical Trump fashion, he ended his social media rant with a warning, claiming that Fox News’ ratings will never recover unless they start putting the “RIGHT” people on their network. Of course, by “RIGHT” people, he means people who will unquestioningly support him and his misguided agenda.
Despite his complaints, both Fox News and the RNC have been eagerly trying to convince Trump to participate in the debate. They clearly understand that having the former president on stage will generate higher ratings and excitement among conservative viewers. But Trump, ever the narcissist, questions why he should subject himself to criticism from people he considers beneath him. After all, he believes his significant lead in the polls and his previous stint as president is reason enough for him to be exempt from debate participation.
So, whether Trump decides to show up or not, he is convinced he will dominate the conversation. His campaign adviser, Jason Miller, boastfully claims that Trump leads the Republican field by over 40 points (although it would be helpful if he provided any evidence to support this claim). Even the debate hosts are well-aware of Trump’s looming presence, acknowledging that candidates will likely be responding to his recent indictment, and his absence won’t prevent him from being a part of the discussion.
In the end, Trump’s complaints about Fox News seem like nothing more than a desperate attempt for attention. He knows that criticizing the network will generate headlines and keep his name in the news cycle, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons. But hey, that’s just the world of politics these days: full of showmanship and grandstanding, with Trump leading the charge.