Trump will often hear about news — or conspiracy theories — on Fox, and he will create policy based on what he hears on the network. He also frequently calls the network to tell shows what to cover.
His appearances on Fox News also create issues for the American public.
Earlier this month, in a clip from an interview with “Fox & Friends,” Trump falsely claimed that children are “almost immune” to the coronavirus. Facebook and Twitter recognized that he was sharing false information: Facebook removed the video, which was posted on Trump’s account, and Twitter temporarily restricted the Trump campaign’s ability to tweet. Twitter said the video was “in violation of the Twitter rules on Covid-19.”
Stelter delved into the Trump-Fox relationship in his new book “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth.”
The relationship is a two-way street, Stelter notes.
“Trump is feeding talking points to morning and evening hosts, but a lot of the times Trump is just reacting to what he’s watching,” Stelter said.
Stelter said he was surprised by how many people at Fox were willing to talk to him for the book.
“Hundreds of people in and around Fox News wanted to talk,” he said.