President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Fox News through his Truth Social platform on Sunday, October 5, 2025, declaring the conservative network too left-wing and politically correct for his administration’s agenda. The president’s fury erupted after Fox correspondent Peter Doocy interviewed Democratic Senator Mark Kelly during a Sunday Briefing segment about the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump expressed his outrage in characteristic fashion, claiming that Republicans have grown weary of Fox’s attempts at political correctness. “They suck up the Ratings because of us, and then spin them in the Democrats’ direction,” he declared in his social media post. The president’s criticism targeted what he perceived as the network’s betrayal after benefiting from his administration’s popularity.
The trigger for Trump’s explosive response appears to have been Doocy’s interview with Kelly, who discussed healthcare costs and the stalled negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. Kelly indicated that Americans face rising healthcare prices due to the lack of a stopgap agreement between the parties, citing concerns over insufficient funding for healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other public services.
The Arizona senator suggested that House Speaker Mike Johnson could resolve the impasse by reconvening the Republican-controlled House for genuine negotiations aimed at reducing costs for Americans. Kelly emphasized that solutions could have emerged as early as Monday if Johnson demonstrated a willingness to engage in meaningful discussions about addressing the high expenses facing ordinary citizens.
Trump’s latest tirade against Fox News represents a significant escalation in his criticism of the network owned by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Despite Fox’s widely recognized right-wing positioning among major national television networks and its consistent support for Trump’s policies throughout both presidencies, the president now considers the outlet insufficiently loyal to his agenda.
The network’s relationship with Trump has been complicated by legal challenges, including Fox’s record-breaking $800 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in April 2023. The defamation case centered on Fox’s promotion of Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election being stolen, resulting in one of the largest settlements in United States history.
Trump’s criticism extends beyond media coverage to encompass what he perceives as systematic opposition to his administration’s policies. His frustration appears particularly focused on Fox’s willingness to provide platforms for Democratic voices during critical moments, such as the current government shutdown negotiations.
The president’s social media outburst coincided with mounting tensions over federal operations and funding. Johnson has not announced plans to resume congressional sessions in the foreseeable future, as the administration faces accusations of weaponizing the shutdown to advance its federal spending reduction agenda.
Trump’s characterization of Fox as politically correct suggests his expectations for media coverage extend beyond traditional conservative positioning to complete alignment with his administration’s messaging. His complaint about the network spinning ratings success “in the Democrats’ direction” indicates frustration with any coverage that provides Democratic perspectives or challenges to his policies.
The timing of Trump’s attack, coming during a government shutdown and amid ongoing negotiations over federal spending priorities, underscores his sensitivity to media coverage during politically challenging periods. His description of Republicans being “tired of this fight” with Fox suggests broader conservative dissatisfaction with the network’s editorial choices.
The president’s demand for media loyalty reflects his broader approach to information control and messaging discipline within conservative circles. His criticism of Fox for interviewing Democratic officials during policy debates indicates expectations that sympathetic outlets should limit opposition voices rather than provide balanced coverage of political developments.
This confrontation between Trump and Fox News represents a significant moment in conservative media dynamics, as the president publicly challenges an outlet that has been among his most consistent supporters throughout his political career. The dispute over political correctness and Democratic coverage suggests fundamental disagreements about media roles during his presidency.
The press isn’t meant to “fall in line,” as Trump is urging Fox News to do. Its role is to challenge those in power, ask tough questions, and serve the public—not the president.
Ultimately, press freedom is not a partisan matter; it’s a fundamental American principle. When leaders choose to suppress criticism rather than address issues, they harm not only the media but the nation itself.
