Trump Escalates Feud with Fox News, Demands Removal of Democratic Commentator
Former President Donald Trump has intensified his ongoing conflict with Fox News by publicly calling for the removal of Democratic commentator Jessica Tarlov from the network's programming. In a Truth Social post published on Monday night, Trump specifically addressed "Fox executives only" with his demand to "take Jessica Tarlov off the air."
Personal Attacks and Accusations
Trump's post contained harsh personal criticism of Tarlov, who serves as the resident Democratic voice on the popular Fox News program "The Five." The former president described her as "one of the worst 'personalities' on television" and claimed she spreads "lies" and "Democrat propaganda." This represents the latest escalation in Trump's long-standing pattern of targeting journalists, particularly women in media roles.
"She is, from her voice, to her lies, and everything else about her, a real loser!" Trump wrote in his social media post, which also criticized "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream for what he perceived as insufficient pushback against Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss during a recent interview.
History of Targeting Tarlov
This is not the first instance of Trump singling out Tarlov for criticism. Last month, during a phone interview on "The Five" when Tarlov was absent, Trump told her co-hosts he was "glad" she wasn't present and accused her of using "fake" polling numbers that showed unfavorable views of his job performance among Americans.
"I think your show would be better without her, but who am I to say that?" Trump remarked during that appearance, as her co-hosts smiled and laughed in response. "I think it would be a lot better."
The conflict dates back to at least June of last year when Trump called Tarlov a "disgrace to television broadcasting" after she reported on unfavorable polling data concerning him. He repeated the "real loser" characterization days later in another Truth Social post.
Experts Warn of Threat to Press Freedom
Political science and media experts express serious concern about Trump's repeated calls for journalists to be removed from their positions. Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, told HuffPost that Trump's behavior demonstrates "little respect for a free press" and shows he "thinks very little, at least outwardly, about the protections that are afforded to the press."
Peter Loge, associate professor of media and public affairs at The George Washington University School of Media & Public Affairs, emphasized that Trump's attacks on journalists represent a consistent pattern throughout his political career.
"This is something President Trump has done repeatedly throughout his time in office, both in the first and second term: He mocks the press, he's belittled the press, he's called them the enemy of the people [and] he's been especially demeaning to women in the press corps," Loge said. "This is part of his MO, and a lot of voters support that."
First Amendment Implications
Andrew Geronimo, director of the First Amendment Clinic at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, noted that Trump's specific address to "Fox executives only" in his post might indicate an awareness of First Amendment limitations.
"Trump's post about Jessica Tarlov is yet another example of Trump's belief that he has a role in shaping news coverage, particularly in punishing those who present views critical of him or his administration," Geronimo explained. He suggested Trump may be attempting to frame his demand as personal opinion rather than a governmental threat, which would constitute a "textbook First Amendment violation."
Normalizing Dangerous Rhetoric
Experts stress the importance of not normalizing attacks on journalists, even amid numerous other pressing national issues. Neiheisel cautioned that accepting such rhetoric as "the new normal on the American political scene" would be dangerous, though he noted the need to distinguish between different types of norm violations to avoid creating "background noise" for average Americans.
Loge emphasized that holding power accountable remains essential regardless of political preferences. "If the president is calling for the removal of a reporter [whom] he doesn't like, the press should call that out," he stated, adding that while some supporters appreciate Trump's unpolished style, recent behavior has been "really unpresidential, unprofessional, demeaning of the office."
Geronimo concluded with a fundamental constitutional reminder: "Our constitutional system is designed so that the government lacks the broad censorship powers to control content and editorial decisions that Trump so often asserts." The ongoing conflict highlights continuing tensions between political figures and media institutions in the current polarized environment.
