As President Donald Trump’s conflict with the mainstream media continues to spiral, one of his top advisers is urging his administration and viewers to boycott Fox News ― a conservative network known for its MAGA-friendly coverage.
Appearing on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast this week, Peter Navarro accused Fox News of having “revealed itself to be essentially undermining the Trump administration” in recent weeks.
“Why are we feeding them talent anymore? Why do we let anybody in this administration go on their network?” he said. “I think that question at least needs to be asked.”
Navarro’s “War Room” appearance coincided with the publication of a new opinion piece he wrote for the conservative Washington Times.
In it, he suggested that Fox News has “Trump derangement syndrome,” pointing to the network’s decisions to part ways with journalist Maria Bartiromo and, later, counter the White House’s barring of CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists, which the president announced last week.
“Fox is not real news. It is CNN with better lighting, a fake slogan and a flag graphic,” he wrote. “Stop watching its dangerous drivel.”
In his chat with Bannon, Navarro also called out the network for not broadcasting Vice President JD Vance’s Monday speech in Greensboro, North Carolina, in its entirety, as well as anchor Sandra Smith’s seemingly dismissive comment explaining that choice.
“They are unchained right now,” he said. “Fox News is much more dangerous to MAGA, much more dangerous to the Republican Party, because they wear our colors when they’re in fact helping the other side undermine the president.”
In the early hours of Thursday, a federal judge ordered Trump to temporarily restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico while their lawsuit proceeds in court, saying his ban on those outlets was likely unconstitutional.
A number of journalists from those outlets said they were turned away from the White House on Thursday morning. After the outlets filed a request for an emergency hearing, the White House appeared to restore access for those journalists.
In spite of Navarro’s grumblings, members of the Trump administration and others close to the president have continued to appear on Fox News this week. On Wednesday morning, “Fox & Friends” featured a lengthy interview with first lady Melania Trump, who touted her husband’s work ethic and praised him for “doing the best that he can” amid cratering approval ratings.