Sean Hannity, a well-known Fox News personality and trusted advisor to President Donald Trump, implored Trump to cease his attacks on Fox News. This plea came shortly before the network agreed to a settlement of a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, as divulged in a forthcoming book.
The insight is found in “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power,” a book by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt, scheduled for release on March 18, 2025. The book reveals that Hannity entreated Trump to halt his onslaught against the conservative network and its chairman, Rupert Murdoch, during a phone conversation in March 2023.
In an excerpt from Isenstadt’s book provided by the Washington Post, Hannity is quoted as saying, “Please do not hit Fox; do not hit the Murdoch family. Just please, for the love of God, please don’t do it.”
The phone call happened at a time of increased tension between Trump and Fox News. Earlier in 2023, Trump had initiated a series of critiques against the network, alleging “collusion” between Fox News, which he accused of harboring animosity towards his MAGA movement, and his then-principal political adversary, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Hannity reportedly expressed his exasperation to Trump during the call, stating that his attacks on the Murdochs were hindering efforts to support him through Fox News. Hannity advised Trump to moderate his approach, proposing that it would be mutually beneficial and could facilitate a return to normalcy.
As per the book, Trump allowed his staff to hear Hannity’s appeals, responding: “Sean is trying to do the right thing. But, man, the Murdochs? I don’t know.”
Hannity’s appeal became more desperate as he sought assistance from Trump’s campaign team, including Trump’s then-campaign manager, Susie Wiles.
A spokesperson for Fox News said Wiles stated that President Trump would make decisions based on what he deems best and equitable. Hannity later stated he could not remember speaking to Wiles during the conversation. Trump reportedly referred to Hannity as a “good man” before concluding the call.
The dispute between Trump and Fox News had been escalating since the 2022 midterm elections. Following underperformance from Republicans in the midterms, several Fox News commentators started expressing their support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, particularly after his resounding reelection victory.
On November 10, 2022, Stuart Varney, a Fox Business host, claimed that Trump was a figure of the past, while Fox News Digital labeled Trump as the “biggest loser” and hailed DeSantis as “the new leader of the Republican Party.” In late February 2023, while promoting his book “The Courage to Be Free,” DeSantis made at least five live appearances on Fox News.
Reports indicate that during this timeframe, Trump faced what his campaign referred to as a “soft ban” from the network, lasting approximately six months.
Tensions heightened further when the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News became public knowledge. Dominion Voting Systems had sued Fox News for $1.6 billion due to allegations made during its 2020 election coverage. Court papers revealed Rupert Murdoch’s admission that some Fox News hosts had supported Trump’s contested claims about the 2020 election being rigged.
Trump capitalized on these revelations, launching direct attacks on Murdoch. He cautioned the media tycoon that if he did not believe the 2020 election was “rigged,” he should “get out of the News Business as soon as possible because they are aiding & abetting the DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA with FAKE NEWS.”
Despite Hannity’s attempts to mediate, the relationship remained tense for much of 2023. In April of that year, Fox News agreed to a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, concluding the defamation lawsuit but not immediately resolving the schism with Trump.
A significant development occurred in September 2023 when Rupert Murdoch resigned as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, assumed his father’s roles, while the 92-year-old media mogul remained chairman emeritus.
Many observers noted this leadership change as a new beginning for the relationship between Trump and the network. By early 2024, the relationship had largely stabilized, with Trump later commending Murdoch during a White House speech, referring to him as “an amazing guy.”
While occasional tensions have surfaced during the 2024 campaign, primarily over Fox News polling and its coverage of his Democratic rival, Trump has not attacked the Murdoch-owned network with the same fervor as during the spring of 2023.
