Donald Trump launched another personal attack on Fox News on Election Day, announcing that he was changing the channel because he could no longer stand listening to one of the network’s regular commentators.
The target was Jessica Tarlov, the liberal co-host of Fox News’ popular afternoon program The Five, whom Trump insulted in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
As the network aired its pre-election coverage, Trump made clear that his frustration was directed not only at Tarlov’s political commentary but also at her voice.
“Watching the Pre-Election Results on FoxNews, but I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov’s voice — DUMB AS A ROCK, but it’s the voice that gets me. Have to go somewhere else until that LOSER is off the air — I’ll be back later! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.
The message marked another public confrontation between the president and a network that continues to feature him prominently.
Only hours earlier, Trump had called into Fox & Friends for an interview. The previous evening, he had also spoken with Sean Hannity for a segment broadcast Monday night.
Despite those appearances, Trump has repeatedly criticized Fox News for giving airtime to Democratic politicians and commentators whose views differ from his own.
Tarlov has become a particularly frequent target.
At an October 5 campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump complained about Fox News interviewing Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
He then singled out Tarlov.
“They always have to put Jessica Tarlov — another loser,” Trump said.
He continued:
“They put these voices on, and, you know, some of our guys defend. A lot of our guys don’t defend because they want to get onto the next question, and it’s really bad. I think it’s really bad, and I think there’s no reason to do it. It’s not better entertainment.”
His complaints have not been limited to campaign rallies.
In another Truth Social message the day before his latest attack, Trump called Tarlov “stupid” while arguing that Fox News should devote more attention to his political events.
“Our people want to see our Rallies, and reports on our Rallies, on FoxNews, or they will very quickly stop watching (like I am doing right now!),” he wrote.
The repeated criticism highlights a tension between Trump’s expectation of favorable coverage and the network’s decision to include commentators from different political perspectives.
Tarlov regularly offers liberal arguments on The Five, a program built around discussion and disagreement among its hosts.
Although Trump has publicly objected to her appearances, Fox News has continued to feature her.
Tarlov has previously responded to the president’s insults without adopting the same confrontational tone.
Following an earlier attack in late September, she wrote on social media:
“Thanks for highlighting my good work.”
That response underscored the unusual dynamic of a sitting president repeatedly criticizing a television commentator while continuing to appear on the same network.
Trump’s latest message did not announce any official action against Fox News or Tarlov. It was a public statement of his intention to stop watching temporarily until her appearance ended.
He even suggested he would return to the channel later.
The episode unfolded as Americans voted in congressional elections, with television networks devoting extensive coverage to the political contests and the implications for control of Congress.
Rather than discussing election results in his post, Trump focused on a television personality whose commentary has repeatedly drawn his anger.
And while his message suggested he was abandoning Fox News for the moment, his recent interviews demonstrated that the relationship between the president and the network remains active.
For Tarlov, the Election Day post added another entry to a growing collection of public attacks from the president.
For Fox News, it was another example of Trump openly criticizing its programming while continuing to use the network as a major platform for his own appearances.
About the Author
Donald J. Trump is nothing but a washed-up rapist. Fox TV and all others need to tell Donald to go and fuck himself. Trump is washed up