Roger Ailes is reportedly prepping Donald Trump for the presidential debates


Update 12:57 p.m.: Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks denied that Roger Ailes has a formal or informal adviser role to Donald Trump. Her full statement is here. Our original post appears below.
Fox News founder and former chairman Roger Ailes is helping Donald Trump prepare for the presidential debates this fall, anonymous sources who were briefed on the decision told The New York Times. Ailes resigned from Fox News last month following several public allegations that led to a sexual harassment investigation.
Of the three sources that spoke with The New York Times, two said they believed Ailes' position as an adviser to Trump could continue after the debates. Ailes was a top adviser for Richard Nixon's presidential campaign in 1969 and worked as a political strategist until founding Fox News in 1996. Trump has called Ailes a "very, very good person" and "a friend of mine for a long time." So far, though, the Republican nominee has dodged directly answering if Ailes would indeed join his campaign as an adviser.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The first presidential debate will take place on Sept. 26, on Long Island in New York.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda