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Tensions Rise Between Trump and Fox News Over Joke-Writing Dispute

Tensions between Donald Trump and Fox News continue to rise as the network denies claims by the former president that its employees helped him write jokes for the Al Smith dinner. This marks an ongoing strain in the once strong relationship between Trump and his former favorite news network.

Lead Art: During his speech at Thursday night’s Al Smith dinner in Manhattan, former President Donald Trump pulled no punches. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Trump’s Joke-Writing Claim Sparks Dispute Former President Donald Trump claimed during a recent interview on “Fox & Friends” that employees at Fox News helped him write jokes for the Al Smith dinner, an annual charity event known for its lighthearted political roasts. Trump said he didn’t like most of the jokes they provided. However, Fox News quickly refuted the claim, stating that no employees or freelancers were involved in writing Trump’s jokes.


Fox News Issues Denial In response to Trump’s comments, Fox News issued a firm statement rejecting the former president’s claim, asserting that no one from the network contributed to his joke writing. The quick rebuttal from Fox highlights the growing tensions between Trump and the network, a relationship that has seen increasing friction throughout the 2024 campaign.


Tensions Escalate Between Trump and Fox While Fox News once had a close relationship with Donald Trump, recent events suggest that the bond is weakening. Trump has skipped several debate invitations from the network and has openly criticized Fox on multiple occasions. His latest claim about the Al Smith dinner adds another layer to the already strained relationship, though Trump has continued to participate in interviews with Fox.


Trump’s Criticism of Fox’s Coverage Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Fox News’ coverage, accusing the network of being too lenient toward Democrats, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris. He has used platforms like Truth Social to voice his frustrations, targeting specific Fox anchors and accusing the network of “softness” in their interviews with Democratic figures.


Contradictory Praise for Bret Baier Despite his criticism, Trump later praised Fox News anchor Bret Baier for conducting what he called a “tough but very fair” interview with Harris. Trump even shared clips from the interview on his social media account, signaling that while tensions persist, he still acknowledges moments of balanced reporting from the network.


Growing Campaign Friction The dispute over joke writing is only the latest in a series of public clashes between Trump and Fox News during the 2024 campaign. As Trump continues his run for the presidency, his complicated relationship with the conservative news network remains a significant subplot of his campaign strategy.

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