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Exclusive: Why Lara Trump Chose Fox News Over the Senate

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Following the election, Lara Trump found herself with several opportunities ahead. She had just wrapped up a successful tenure as co-chair for the Republican National Committee, and her father-in-law, Donald Trump, was on track to become one of the most influential figures globally. At first, he considered having her take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. However, Elon Musk proposed a role for her within his Department of Government Efficiency – a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing costs.

Ultimately, though, Lara chose another route: her own show on Fox News. 

In many instances, Trump 2.0 presents unique situations. For the first time, a relative of a sitting president is set to host a prominent program on a significant news network. The premiere of “My View with Lara Trump” this Saturday signifies the pinnacle of the interconnected relationship between Trump and Fox News. While the President has recruited at least 19 current or former Fox News personalities for senior roles in his administration, one of his closest associates is about to join Fox News as their newest prime-time host.

After a tumultuous four-year stretch between Trump’s world and Fox News, dating back to Election Night 2020 when Fox called Arizona for Joe Biden, tension grew. This intensified the growth of conservative media outlets that position themselves as alternatives to Fox, such as Newsmax, One America News Network, Right Side Broadcasting Network, and Real America’s Voice. Some Trump supporters began viewing Fox News as no longer a stronghold for MAGA (Make America Great Again) followers. Lara Trump tells TIME, “If anyone feels that way, I hope they understand my joining the Fox team as a clear signal of where Fox stands.

To critics, Lara Trump’s promotion is seen as a demonstration of her father-in-law’s control over the conservative media landscape. As Jason Stanley, a professor at Yale University and media scholar, puts it, “Much of this is symbolic.” He further explains, “It’s Fox showing its submission.” Some argue that her show signifies a more significant move towards disseminating unabashed propaganda in support of the Trump Administration. Concerns arise from the belief that Trump has taken control of two potent communication channels for mobilizing support during the next four years: the country’s most-watched cable news network and a popular social media service owned by Musk. Stanley adds, “The opposition lacks both X and Fox.

After serving as a paid contributor at Fox News and later being appointed RNC co-chair by Donald Trump, Lara Trump had the potential to step further into the political arena in 2024. During her tenure, she played a significant role in fundraising efforts and represented the campaign on TV. It was speculated that Trump was preparing Lara to continue the MAGA movement. Following the election, an opportunity presented itself when Rubio’s Senate seat from Florida became vacant, where Lara resides with her family, who are related to Eric Trump. Despite considering this Congressional position, Lara declined due to the same reason she chose not to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2022 – a commitment to her two young children.

She turned down an invitation to join Musk’s DOGE (Dogecoin) project because she was following the advice of her brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, and sister-in-law, Ivanka Trump, who were both part of the first Trump Administration. They had faced personal challenges during that time, which also affected their family greatly. Even if she relocated her entire family to Washington D.C., Lara believes it would have been a difficult adjustment for her children and the family as a whole. For her upcoming show on Fox, she plans to travel across the country for interviews and record other segments either in her home studio in Florida or at the network’s headquarters in New York City.

Trump frequently teases her by saying, “You’re unique in that you could have run for Senate twice, but on both occasions, you chose not to pursue it,” as Lara describes.

Every Saturday at 9 p.m, I’ll be curating narratives instead of drafting bills. My focus will be on engaging in thoughtful, extended discussions with key figures from the MAGA political sphere, including Trump officials and other notable players. Kicking off my venture, I’ll delve into a segment titled “Women of the Trump White House,” where I’ll sit down for interviews with Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This segment aims to counter billionaire Mark Cuban’s assertion from last fall that President Trump lacks relationships with strong, intelligent women.

Fox’s associates view this program as the strongest indication yet that they have wholeheartedly welcomed President Trump back into their fold. Following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election and the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Fox made efforts to distance itself from him. During the previous campaign season, a number of Fox hosts and contributors backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over Trump, causing a divide between the two. Not long after Trump announced his White House bid in November 2022, there was a lengthy period during which he refused to appear on their network.

According to Alex Bruesewitz, CEO of X Strategies and a former advisor to Donald Trump, it’s not surprising that millions of MAGA supporters felt upset with Fox News due to its frequent negative bias towards Trump during off-election years. However, he considers this decision as a shrewd move and definitely progress in the right direction.

During that time, a cluster of right-wing networks, podcasts, and platforms grew in popularity, presenting themselves as devout followers of MAGA (Make America Great Again) ideals who remained faithful to Trump. “We had nothing,” Steve Bannon, Trump’s ex-chief strategist and host of the widely listened-to War Room hard-right podcast, stated. “We had Trump. We had this show. Fox News left us behind.” Tommy Firth, a Fox News executive in charge of primetime programming, described the rebellion against Fox as a “business move” by certain MAGA personalities to boost their own media outlets. “I believe they were launched or released to challenge us,” he said.

In certain aspects, shows like Bannon’s have grown more impactful within conservative circles. Yet, despite an increasing number of the Trump supporter base consuming news from unconventional sources – like the podcasts Trump often listened to during his campaign – Fox News continues to hold the top spot as the leading cable network. Consequently, it serves as a significant power hub in Trump’s Washington, particularly as he works towards garnering public backing for his assertive second-term policy initiatives.

Lara Trump comments, “It’s clear he’s a regular Fox viewer.” She adds, “I believe he enjoyed my company, often reaching out to me after each appearance of mine.

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2025-02-20 18:06

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