Trump blasts Fox News for snubbing packed Ohio rally as polls show GOP trouble
President Donald Trump took aim at Fox News on Sunday after the network declined to broadcast his packed rally in Ohio, a move that comes as new polling suggests Republicans could face significant losses in the upcoming midterm elections.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump accused the network of ignoring the enthusiasm at his campaign events while giving airtime to Democratic voices, warning that MAGA voters will abandon the network if it does not change course.
Trump calls out Fox News for skipping Ohio rally coverage
Trump held a rally Saturday night in Vandalia, Ohio, part of a final push to drive Republican turnout before Election Day. By Sunday morning, he was frustrated that Fox News had not shown footage of the event.
“Sad to see that Fox & Friends (Sunday) is not covering our packed house and incredibly enthusiastic (beyond!),” Trump wrote. “Rally that took place in Ohio last night, or the ones in Alabama, Texas, or Oklahoma over the past two days. These Election Rallies were representative of what is really happening with our great Republican Party.”
The president has grown increasingly combative with the media in recent weeks. Last month, his administration banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House premises, a move a federal judge quickly blocked. Trump also barred CNN from Air Force One during a trip to Tennessee.
Trump threatens Fox viewers will tune out
Trump warned that Fox News risks losing its audience if it continues to ignore his events and feature Democratic commentators.
“Our people want to see our Rallies, and reports on our Rallies, on Fox News, or they will very quickly stop watching (like I am doing right now!),” he said.
The president specifically criticized the network for interviewing Democratic candidates and pundits, including Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, and Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic voice on “The Five.”
“Fox spends more time talking to Communists, Socialists, and Dumocrats, often without rebuttal, and MAGA is not, to put it mildly, happy,” Trump said. “We don't like stupid Jessica Tarlov, and all of the others, that are forced down MAGA'S throats.”
He also expressed anger over the network’s decision to part ways with Maria Bartiromo, one of his most vocal supporters on cable news.
“These Rallies are the hottest things out there, tremendous love in those sold-out arenas, and nothing shows up on Fox!” he wrote. “Also, phenomenal ratings for those that properly report. Who makes these decisions at Fox News? Probably the same loser that fired the great Maria Bartiromo because she complained about not being allowed to cover ‘TRUMP.’”
Polls show Democrats leading in key Senate races
Trump’s frustration comes as a series of polls from The New York Times and Siena College released Saturday showed Democratic Senate candidates leading in Texas, Ohio, and Alaska, while races in Kansas and Iowa are either tied or leaning slightly Republican.
The Ohio rally was part of Trump’s effort to boost Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, who is trailing Democrat Sherrod Brown in recent surveys. Trump also campaigned in Texas to support his preferred Senate candidate, Ken Paxton, who is behind Democrat James Talarico in the polls.
Despite the numbers, Trump pushed back on the polling narrative, pointing to his own electoral record.
“The Polls have ALWAYS underestimated MAGA,” he said. “They try to suppress the Vote, but I won all 7 Swing States, the Popular Vote, 86 percent of Counties, and 99 percent of Primaries this year. I AM ON THE BALLOT!”
What the latest national numbers show
A CBS News poll released Sunday found Democrats holding a nine-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, projecting Democrats would win 229 House seats compared to 206 for Republicans.
For Iowa voters, the stakes are clear. The state’s Senate race between Republican incumbent Joni Ernst and Democratic challenger Rob Sand remains competitive, with the Times/Siena poll showing Ernst with a narrow edge. Trump’s rally schedule has included stops in neighboring states, and his ability to turn out rural and working-class voters could prove decisive in Iowa’s rural counties.
Republicans are hoping that strong enthusiasm among Trump’s base will overcome polling headwinds, while Democrats are banking on suburban voters and concerns about the economy to carry them to victory.
What this means for Iowa Republicans
Trump’s public feud with Fox News could have ripple effects in Iowa, where the network remains a primary news source for many conservative voters. If Trump continues to urge his supporters to tune out Fox, it could shift how Iowa Republicans consume political news in the final days before the election.
For now, Trump shows no signs of backing down, promising more rallies in the days ahead and urging his supporters to ignore the polls.
“The enthusiasm is real,” he said. “The polls are not.”