By Salma El-Sakka
Donald Trump launched a barrage of criticism at Fox News on election night, holding the network responsible for Republican failures to retain control of the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. Even before races were called, the president posted multiple messages on Truth Social attacking Fox for featuring Democratic pundit Jessica Tarlov, dismissing its polls as "always the worst," and accusing the channel of being "AGAINST" him.
Trump Confronts Network on Live Air
In a striking moment just before midnight, Trump called into Fox's election coverage and directly told anchors their pollsters were "terrible." Anchor Bret Baier pushed back gently, noting the results aligned closely with Fox's polling. Trump also took a swipe at Baier for not supporting him "when it wasn't fashionable."
Fox Commentators Defend President, Blame Other Factors
Throughout more than six hours of election night coverage reviewed by The Guardian, Fox commentators avoided tying losses to Trump. Host Jesse Watters suggested voters were "impatient" and wanted "instant gratification." Multiple panelists noted the historical pattern of the president's party struggling in midterms. Conservative voices argued Democrats would overreach, setting up Republican gains in 2028.
Iran War and Messaging Cited as Liabilities
The most substantive criticism of Trump focused on his decision to launch a war against Iran and the resulting spike in gas prices. Sean Hannity, Trump's strongest supporter on the network, agreed with Baier that the outcome would have differed without the Iran intervention. "I think it's prices. People are mad," Watters said. Former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow argued the president was "too successful in the first year and didn't sell it enough in the second." Former Bush press secretary Dana Perino said the administration had "too many balls in the air" messaging-wise.
Panel Overwhelmingly Rejects Blame on Trump
The consensus among Fox's panel — including former Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt — was that blame should not rest with the president. Leavitt pointed to "the lying media on the other side." Host Will Cain declared the "pros significantly outweigh the cons" of Trump's first two years. Laura Ingraham acknowledged the election was a "referendum on Trump" but insisted his policies had been "phenomenal." Hannity maintained Trump's policies "are rock solid" and the Iran action "had to be done."
Trump Rejects Personal Responsibility
Echoing the network's sentiment, Trump told the Fox panel: "I don't view it as a hit on me," adding he would be judged historically for "having done the right thing." He placed primary blame on defeated Republican candidates and repeated his claim that results would have differed had he been on the ballot.
