As the highly anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris draws near, Fox News finds itself facing unexpected scrutiny. The conservative network, known for its unwavering support of Trump, is now struggling to maintain control over its narrative, leading to confusion and controversy in its coverage of the upcoming debate, which is hosted by ABC.
Fox’s approach to framing the debate has relied heavily on reusing familiar tactics, including the same graphics package they used during the Trump-Biden debates. For example, during the Trump-Biden debate, Fox labeled CNN’s coverage as “Media Malpractice on Display.” Now, as they focus on ABC, the graphic has been altered to read “ABC Bias on Full Display.” Sean Hannity, one of Fox’s leading figures, has gone so far as to threaten Disney (which owns ABC) with a boycott, should they be perceived as unfair to Trump.
In a desperate attempt to sway viewers, Hannity declared that half of America would turn against Disney if they did not support Trump fairly. The Fox News host emphasized how pivotal ABC’s treatment of Trump during the debate would be, hinting that it could lead to widespread backlash against the network.
Despite Fox’s aggressive pre-debate commentary, Trump’s surrogates on the network have been equally vocal about his supposed debating prowess. Fox’s panelists, like Charlie Hurt and Caroline Levitt, have built up Trump as one of the greatest debaters in modern history. According to them, Trump’s debating skills are unmatched, and he requires little preparation for such events, as demonstrated in previous debates.
However, while Trump’s camp praises his performance, it’s important to note a growing disconnect between Fox’s aggressive rhetoric and the broader electorate. Trump’s style, characterized by name-calling and personal attacks, has raised concerns, particularly among suburban women, a demographic critical to winning elections. This was highlighted during a recent exchange on Fox Business, where the host challenged Caroline Levitt about Trump’s derogatory nicknames. Levitt defended Trump’s language, stating that such rhetoric resonates with his base, dismissing concerns that it might alienate moderate voters.
In addition to their defense of Trump’s behavior, Fox hosts like Laura Ingraham have taken to preemptively dismissing Kamala Harris’s expected debate arguments. Ingraham suggested that Harris would lie about key issues like January 6th, the economy, and Trump’s legal troubles, urging her viewers to ignore Harris’s statements. This tactic of discrediting Harris before the debate even begins reflects a larger strategy by Fox News to shape its audience’s perceptions, no matter what facts are presented during the event.
In a further demonstration of their bias, Fox has continued to push misleading narratives about Harris. For example, they highlighted her support for decriminalizing marijuana as part of her supposed “extremism,” while conveniently ignoring that Trump himself has expressed support for similar policies.
Fox News’s struggles were also evident when they accidentally aired a clip from a White House press conference where Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was contrasting the current administration’s successes with Trump’s time in office. This unintentional airing of a pro-Biden message underscored how difficult it has been for Fox to control the debate narrative.
The network’s messaging surrounding the debate has become a perfect example of their reliance on fear and division. As Hannity, Ingraham, and other Fox personalities ramp up the rhetoric about the supposed threats posed by Harris and the Democrats, the more they reveal the weaknesses in their own strategy. While they continue to frame Trump as a political hero and Harris as a villain, their reliance on misinformation and extreme language is leading to growing skepticism among viewers.
At the same time, Fox’s competitors like Newsmax have been spreading even more outrageous claims, with host Carl Higbie accusing Haitian migrants of eating domesticated animals in Ohio—claims that have been debunked by local authorities. This kind of sensationalist and false reporting further adds to the atmosphere of distrust that now surrounds conservative media outlets.
With the debate approaching, the spotlight is firmly on Fox News, and its ability to maintain its narrative is increasingly coming into question. Their repeated use of fear tactics, combined with their overt loyalty to Trump, may ultimately backfire, pushing moderate voters away rather than drawing them in. As the debate unfolds, Fox News’s influence may weaken, leaving many to question whether their propaganda machine is losing its effectiveness.
