By every standard held to previous presidential candidates, Joe Biden won the 2020 elections, far exceeding the margins Trump himself beat Hillary Clinton by in 2016.
Despite that, many commentators on Fox News have been following the President's lead by casting doubt on the election results and suggesting without evidence that there might be some sort of widespread conspiracy theory at play.
During a recent episode of The Five, however, things went off the rails when co-host Geraldo Rivera pointed out that the network was giving viewers "false hope" by acting as if Donald Trump's debunked conspiracy theories may be real.
"We're giving false hope to people." https://t.co/adgI2FE91u— Oliver Darcy (@Oliver Darcy) 1605826493.0
Rivera pointed out how wild Fox's conspiracy theories were, saying:
"The Clinton Foundation? George Soros?"
"Hugo Chavez? An international conspiracy?"
"Why not Elvis?"
Geraldo Rivera has become the voice of reason https://t.co/lQNZfRlDIw— Mike Madrid (@Mike Madrid) 1605855075.0
@oliverdarcy @brianstelter We’ve reached the “Geraldo is the voice of reason on Fox” stage of this farce.— Ron Wechsler (@Ron Wechsler) 1605827631.0
@oliverdarcy @brianstelter These folks on FOX News programs are paid to advocate for Trump and the White House. It'… https://t.co/gLwdhQKad8— PacNorthwest (@PacNorthwest) 1605827989.0
Rivera, a friend of Donald Trump's, admitted he wanted the President to win re-election, but the Trump campaign offered no evidence whatsoever for their claims.
"I love the president! I wanted him to win the election. What I saw with Rudy Giuliani, who I've known for decades, was bizarre, it was unfocused."
"It was conspiracy theory, this and that. When you have evidence that you suggest — what's the lawsuit that that evidence attaches to? What's the action?"
"You can't go to a court and say, 'It's fraud, judge, prove it for me! Or ask the FBI to prove it for me!' That's not the way it happens!"
@oliverdarcy Wait, was Geraldo actually being rational for a second there?— Ben Smith (@Ben Smith) 1605828064.0
@oliverdarcy When Geraldo Rivera is the voice of reason on Fox News... you need to worry!— YazairaCabreraDavila (@YazairaCabreraDavila) 1605827215.0
Many on Twitter were shocked they seemed to be hearing some sound logic from Geraldo Rivera.
@oliverdarcy The one who yells the loudest wins on this panel... that is also how people think democracy works— AM (@AM) 1605827923.0
@oliverdarcy @brianstelter "If you don't pursue these fraud accusations half the country will think it was crooked"… https://t.co/Hqy5iJMkrk— Anu : FREE PALESTINE (@Anu : FREE PALESTINE) 1605827622.0
When Jesse Waters pointed out the Trump campaign still had some active lawsuits pending, Rivera pointed out:
"They dropped Michigan! They dropped Pennsylvania! We're giving false hope! We're giving false hope to people."
@oliverdarcy @brianstelter Jesse’s the worst— Cami (@Cami) 1605827684.0
@oliverdarcy At times like these I'm reminded what the great prophet Michael Cohen said: "At the end Trump makes ev… https://t.co/njFew8udyi— Stevebrice2021(M.Young-Squad) (@Stevebrice2021(M.Young-Squad)) 1605828519.0
@oliverdarcy Camera operator *immediately* pans away from panelist who says they’re giving their people false hope. https://t.co/CmGZEcHIGT— Rob Lisenko (@Rob Lisenko) 1605826984.0
Twitter expressed their deep frustration any host at Fox News continued to undermine democracy by lending credence to Trump's selfish claims.
@oliverdarcy The Fox debate format is to just scream over people who dare to go against the propaganda party line.… https://t.co/VvUC8Eez8N— DiDi (@DiDi) 1605828764.0
@oliverdarcy Here's a crazy thought-- half the country believes there was fraud BECAUSE Trump is pursuing all these… https://t.co/zaxzg7nvT3— Happy Camper (@Happy Camper) 1605828943.0
It seems even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Today, that clock is Geraldo Rivera and he was absolutely right on this episode of The Five.