Nineteen former Fox News hosts, commentators, and medical experts are set to occupy roles in the second administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, making Fox News the most prolific source of recruits to a president’s cabinet and staff in U.S. history.
Star Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Jesse Watters will likely praise President Trump and his new administration, while correspondents like Jennifer Griffin, the network’s chief national security correspondent, will be forced to report on the Pentagon and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, whom she once analyzed on the air. Jay Wallace, president and executive editor of Fox News Media, says this arrangement is “business as usual,” adding that the network’s approach to reporting on the Trump administration will remain unchanged.
However, Wallace admits that some correspondents may alter their style due to the unprecedented level of closeness between Trump and Fox News. Trump, a longtime Fox News fan, has already stocked his transition team with the network’s personnel and is seeking to install them in high-level positions across his administration. For instance, Trump’s nominees include Pete Hegseth, who is poised to head the Defense Department; Sean Duffy, a former Fox Business host, as transportation secretary; Tom Homan, a Fox contributor, as border czar; and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, who previously appeared on Fox to discuss COVID-19, as surgeon general.
A number of Fox alumni will assume senior positions within the Trump administration, including Ambassador to Israel, State Department posts, and high-level advisory roles. Fox News itself views the presence of so many alumni as a testament to its reputation for selecting strong individuals to advance the interests of conservative politics. The unique arrangement highlights the complicated relationship between Trump and Fox News, as Trump often critiques the network yet has developed strong ties to it through its commentators and programming.