The dynamic between former President Donald Trump and the conservative media has taken another turn as Trump aired his grievances on Truth Social against Fox News hosts Howard Kurtz and Karl Rove. The conflict arose from their commentary on his early presidency, with Trump expressing dissatisfaction over their analysis.
During a segment featuring Trump supporter Ben Domenech and liberal strategist Leslie Marshall, Kurtz attempted to defend Trump's decision to fire National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and discuss the president's approval ratings. However, Trump felt that Kurtz's defense was lackluster. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the anchors, stating, "Every Woke Anchor in the business, people that no one watched from CNN, MSDNC and others are plastered all over his show with all really negative and fake statements and then I am weakly 'defended' by Howie and his group." Trump elaborated, "The case Howie makes for me is so pathetic that it would be a lot better if he didn't say anything."
Kurtz responded to the critique, maintaining his stance on fairness and his long-standing relationship with Trump. On X, Kurtz wrote, "I've known President Trump for 35 years, and if I hated him, he wouldn't keep giving me interviews." He added, "Some people [are] not interested in fairness."
The contention didn't stop there. After watching "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy," Trump directed his ire at Karl Rove. Rove had suggested that Trump should focus more on economic issues, particularly inflation and the rising cost of gasoline, to address concerns important to voters. Rejecting Rove's advice, Trump stated on Truth Social, "I don't need Karl Rove of Fox News to tell me what to do. The guy's a total loser who's been wrong about almost everything."
Rove's remarks were an attempt to help Trump improve his approval ratings by prioritizing a strong economy and combating inflation. However, Trump made it clear he did not appreciate the guidance.
These exchanges underscore the challenges conservative media figures face when offering critical commentary on Trump's policies and actions. The rift could have lasting effects on the conservative media landscape and the broader Republican Party. Despite the criticism, Kurtz and Rove are expected to continue sharing their political insights on Fox News.
As the relationship between Trump and conservative media evolves, the impact on American politics remains significant, with Trump continuing to be a dominant force. The responses from Kurtz and Rove illustrate the complexities of supporting yet critiquing a figure like Trump within the conservative sphere.