- Former President Trump fires back at claims of an embarrassing Fox News call cut-off, insisting, “They called me first.”
- Trump defends his on-air comments, criticizing Fox News for cutting the call short and dismissing negative media coverage.
- Social media reacts with mockery, but Trump remains defiant, branding himself as a “Ratings Machine.”
Was Trump embarrassed by the Fox News call cut-off?
In a fiery response to claims that he was embarrassingly cut off by Fox News during a live call, former President Donald Trump made it clear that he wasn’t the one at fault. During a segment where Trump was supposed to critique Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech at the DNC, Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum abruptly ended the call, leaving many to speculate that Trump had been cut off for going off-topic. However, Trump shot back, stating on Truth Social, “Bret Baier of Fox News called me; I didn’t call him.” He emphasized that the network reached out to him first, asking for a short interview, not the extended one that unfolded.
Trump, visibly frustrated, accused Fox News of mishandling the situation and criticized the network for cutting him off during his critique of Harris and his praise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was about to endorse him. He dismissed the notion that he was rambling, asserting that his comments were relevant and that the call was cut simply because the network had run out of time. “I’m a ratings machine,” Trump declared, suggesting that the call’s abrupt end was more about time constraints than any embarrassment on his part.
What’s the reaction to Trump’s defense?
Trump didn’t stop at just defending himself against Fox News. He also took a swipe at the New York Times and columnist Maureen Dowd, who had referred to his call as a “scream-of-consciousness” moment. Trump slammed Dowd and other media critics, claiming that they misrepresented the situation and were simply out to undermine him. He insisted that media outlets like Fox News seek him out because of the ratings he generates, not the other way around. “I don’t have to make calls to go on TV, or anything else — They call me!” Trump wrote, doubling down on his self-proclaimed status as a “Ratings Machine.”
Social media, however, wasn’t entirely on Trump’s side. Many users mocked the former president, pointing out that his refusal to let the anchors speak and the accidental pressing of buttons during the call made for an awkward and, at times, unintentionally humorous segment. Despite the online mockery, Trump remains unfazed, continuing to use the incident as an example of how much attention he commands in the media landscape.
Conclusion: How will Trump’s media battles play out?
As Trump continues to navigate the media landscape leading up to the elections, his recent spat with Fox News and the broader media illustrates the ongoing tension between the former president and the press. While his critics may mock his latest episode, Trump is clearly determined to maintain his dominance in the media, leveraging his strong following and ability to drive ratings. Whether this approach will benefit him politically remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Trump is not backing down from the spotlight anytime soon.
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