Fox News hosts have recently increased their scrutiny of President Donald Trump and his associates’ inaccurate claims, signaling a shift for the network traditionally known for its supportive stance. The challenges have spanned a range of topics, from the politics surrounding a potential government shutdown to legal issues involving former FBI Director James Comey.
On Tuesday, September 30, Fox News host Laura Ingraham engaged with House Speaker Mike Johnson when he reiterated Trump administration narratives regarding the government shutdown. Johnson alleged that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was pushing for a shutdown in order to offer free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, a claim that has been debunked.
In response, Ingraham challenged Johnson’s claims, pointing out that Schumer denied such accusations and that Democrats depicted their stance as maintaining Medicaid funding.
Johnson defended his position, asserting that Ingraham was incorrect and reiterated Trump’s rhetoric. The president had posted on Truth Social the previous week with several inaccuracies, asserting that Democrats wanted violent criminals among undocumented immigrants to have free healthcare. Trump also inaccurately claimed Democrats aimed to keep deceased individuals on Medicaid and Social Security rolls for criminals to exploit.
The actual healthcare disputes pertain to Democrats advocating for federal subsidies to make healthcare more affordable and reversing Trump-era Medicaid reductions. Undocumented immigrants remain ineligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid, and Trump’s legislation further restricted legal immigrants’ eligibility for healthcare subsidies.
Fox News legal analyst Andrew McCarthy also diverged from the Trump administration on Friday, September 26, concerning the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. McCarthy appeared on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo, expressing skepticism about the validity of the case against Comey.
McCarthy, who identifies as a strong critic of the Russia investigation, argued that the indictment was based on incorrect information. He explained that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stated he directed a leak to The Wall Street Journal and informed Comey afterward, contrary to claims that Comey had authorized the leak.
Fox News host Howard Kurtz offered even more pointed criticism on Thursday, telling anchor Gillian Turner that the Comey indictment was orchestrated by Trump. Kurtz mentioned that Trump had dismissed his own appointee as U.S. attorney in Virginia due to insufficient evidence, then involved a White House aide to continue the case.
The network has also scrutinized Trump’s budget legislation. Fox Business host Liz Claman highlighted unfavorable polling in a June 27 interview with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. A Fox News poll indicated only 38 percent of registered voters backed Trump’s spending bill, while 59 percent opposed it. Other polls showed even lower support.
Claman questioned Rollins on why budget cuts targeted programs like SNAP food assistance and Medicaid for low-income Americans. The bill proposes nearly $300 billion in SNAP reductions through 2034 to fund tax cuts primarily benefiting wealthy Americans.
Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley criticized the Pentagon’s new media policy, calling the implications for press freedom significant. The policy requires journalists to obtain administration approval before reporting even unclassified information from the Pentagon.
Turley explained that the policy could allow Pentagon officials to suppress any reporting they disagreed with, creating what he described as a stranglehold on press freedom. The Society of Professional Journalists characterized the rule as prior restraint, a form of government censorship.
The network has also faced criticism for inappropriate coverage, including when hosts Jesse Watters and Julie Banderas speculated about 19-year-old Barron Trump’s personal life following reports of a date at Trump Tower. The discussion drew widespread criticism online for its inappropriate nature.
These occurrences indicate a shift from Fox News’ traditionally supportive coverage of Trump and his administration. The network seems more willing to question false claims and inappropriate policies, even when originating from Republican leadership or the Trump White House.
