A fiery confrontation erupted on the set between Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld and his co-panelist Jessica Tarlov during late March and early April 2026, representing just one of multiple disputes between the pair as President Donald Trump’s declining poll numbers fuel growing unease at the cable outlet.
The persistent conflict between Gutfeld and Tarlov has grown more acute as Trump’s polling figures maintain their slide downward, generating an uncomfortable atmosphere among Fox on-air talent charged with supporting an administration confronting substantial public opinion obstacles.
Gutfeld, anchor of “Gutfeld!” airing weeknights at 10 p.m., has repeatedly clashed with Tarlov, a progressive commentator who offers opposing viewpoints on Fox News broadcasts. Their exchanges have become progressively sharper as the channel manages reporting on Trump’s struggling survey results.
The strain becomes especially uncomfortable considering Trump’s personal obsession with survey data. In a March 26 segment on “The Five,” the president openly attacked Fox News’ survey team, stating, “I hate Fox polls. Honestly, whoever does your polls are terrible.” Trump further asserted he had discussed with Fox Corp chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch replacing the channel’s pollster—though Murdoch had declined to act.
Trump’s hostility toward Tarlov intensified during late March and early April. In his March 26 interview on “The Five,” with Tarlov not present, Trump informed the hosts he was “not a fan” of the Democratic analyst. “I think your show would be better without her, but who am I to say that?” he said. Subsequently, on the evening of April 6, Trump used Truth Social to message Fox leadership directly, posting: “Take Jessica Tarlov off the air. She is, from her voice to her lies, and everything else about her, one of the worst ‘personalities’ on television, a real loser! People cannot stand watching her.” The motivation behind the message remained uncertain, since Tarlov hadn’t participated in that night’s broadcast. Tarlov replied via social media, expressing she was “so bummed” to miss the show, noting she “definitely would’ve said he’s even inflating his numbers to 42 percent.”
The remarks arrived one day following a Fox News survey revealing his disapproval rating hitting 59 percent, the peak across both of his presidential terms, with total approval registering merely 41 percent.
The president’s survey difficulties have worsened rapidly following the launch of the Iran war in late February 2026. Per the Silver Bulletin, Trump’s approval percentage fell under 40 percent for the first time in his second administration during early April, with his net approval dropping to -16.9. A CNN survey published April 1, 2026, showed his economic approval had fallen to a personal record low of 31 percent, while approximately two-thirds of Americans indicated his measures had damaged economic circumstances.
The falling figures have placed Fox anchors in an uncomfortable situation. Certain hosts have recognized the administration’s political difficulties, while alternative voices have minimized or criticized the surveys, occasionally conflicting with the president’s personal grievances about negative data. Network sources report tensions between Gutfeld and Tarlov have festered for months, with their philosophical disagreements progressively entering personal realms.
Tarlov, who has been featured consistently on “The Five” across multiple years, functions as among the program’s limited progressive commentators. Her readiness to contest conservative narratives has transformed her interactions with Gutfeld into must-see television for certain audiences—and a source of dispute.
Gutfeld received his degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in English in 1987. He developed his professional path through political satire and libertarian analysis. Newsweek labeled him the “King of Late Night” following “Gutfeld!” exceeding every broadcast and cable late-night show in audience size, including CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
During the opening quarter of 2026, “Gutfeld!” attracted three million audience members each night at 10 p.m., comfortably exceeding its late-night rivals. The program showcases recurring contributors, including Fox News panelist Kat Timpf and entertainer Tyrus.
Gutfeld additionally serves as co-anchor of “The Five”, broadcasting weekdays at 5 p.m. and standing as cable news’ top-rated offering. The broadcast continued its unprecedented streak as the most-viewed cable news show for 18 straight quarters during the first quarter of 2026, pulling nearly four million audience members.
Before his broadcast profession, Gutfeld held a position as a staff writer at Prevention magazine and worked as editor-in-chief of Men’s Health. He subsequently assumed the editor-in-chief role at Stuff magazine, growing circulation from 750,000 to 1.2 million readers. He additionally led Maxim magazine in the United Kingdom and wrote for the Huffington Post from its 2005 debut through 2008. He became part of Fox News Channel in 2007 as a contributor, anchoring the late-night broadcast “Red Eye” from 2007-2015 and “The Greg Gutfeld Show” from 2015-2021.
