For decades, Fox News has been the conservative answer to what the GOP says is a mainstream media landscape biased toward Democrats.
With some exceptions, Fox News has amplified the thousands of lies told by Trump over the course of his four years as President—including lies that Democrats somehow orchestrated widespread voter fraud that tipped the 2020 election to President-elect Joe Biden.
But as those who know Trump have pointed out, unconditional loyalty is required to remain in the outgoing President's good graces. In that regard, Fox has come up short.
While the President still hails the network's far-right opinion hosts with primetime slots, he's blasted Fox News in the past for unfavorable polling numbers and fact checks, encouraging his conservative followers to switch to other far-right media outlets like One America News and Newsmax.
In the President's most recent tweet slamming Fox News, Twitter users felt Trump potentially foreshadowed the creation of his own so-called news network.
Watching @FoxNews is almost as bad as watching Fake News @CNN. New alternatives are developing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2020
Axios reported last month that the President was considering the launch of his own conservative media outlet following his loss to President-elect Joe Biden—a victory which the President still denies. It's unclear if this is what the President meant by "new alternatives," but Twitter took the phrase as a subtle announcement.
Given Trump's propensity for stamping his name on products (Trump hotels, Trump Steaks, Trump University...), "Trump News Network" soon began trending on Twitter.
Users predicted what the Trump News Network would look like.
The kinds of graphics that will air on the Trump News Network. pic.twitter.com/BM8FI7BCwD
— Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) December 31, 2020
But will Trump News Network have weather updates pic.twitter.com/GwKruvQKZe
— aarmail (@Aarokee15) December 31, 2020
On the day Donald Trump is arrested, the top headline on Trump News Network will be “Hey look over there a squirrel!"
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) December 31, 2020
Tune into "Judge Rudy" daily @ 11am PST on the Trump News Network pic.twitter.com/MczHlZMwSw
— The G (@gnnr_great) December 31, 2020
Trump News Network: 24/7 videos of Trump lifting a barbell consisting of two black balloons with “500 LBS" written on them. https://t.co/eiQ0rvMcDf
— JRehling (@JRehling) December 31, 2020
I envision Trump News Network as being half FOX News and half infomercial.
“Here's tonight's alternative facts. But wait, there's more! Call now and for $99.99, you can buy a replica of the plate Trump used to eat KFC off of in the White House!" 😳 pic.twitter.com/wA4pkzlST3
— Linda Childers (@lindarchilders) December 31, 2020
Trump's tweet disparaging Fox News was widely mocked.
NEW ALTERNATIVES https://t.co/OzzNZshiv7 pic.twitter.com/mhsQKULNKp
— ((( Fredi-Fredàé ))) 😷 I HATE TRUMP! (@freddyatton) December 30, 2020
Maybe instead of watching TV, do your job. https://t.co/up6OEoc7Tz
— Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) December 31, 2020
I gave this one a good laugh. https://t.co/r5tw4enUbK
— Austin Morrow (@AustinMorrow02) December 31, 2020
Trump's presidency may end on January 20th, but the disinformation he peddles doesn't show any signs of evaporating.
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