This is the bizarre way the Fox & Friends hosts are trying to avoid reporting that Trump tried to fire Robert Mueller


The hosts of Fox & Friends dutifully covered The New York Times' front-page bombshell on Friday, but stopped short of accepting the report that President Trump tried to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller last June. That put the hosts in a bit of an awkward spot, though, seeing as Fox News has independently corroborated the story.
Nevertheless, host Steve Doocy began by telling viewers that "what [President Trump] just told reporters, you're going to want to hear, it's not in the papers," which Media Matters' Matthew Gertz points out is simply because Trump made the comments overnight. But Doocy had set the tone for the morning coverage at Fox News, which focused intently on Trump's claim that the New York Times' scoop is "fake news."
"There's a huge difference between talking and taking action," argued Pete Hegseth. Ainsley Eardardt boldly pivoted off topic by telling viewers: "The president says it's fake news, that happened last June, it's something we have to tell you about because it's a headline on The New York Times. What do you think about that? Do you even care? Something you probably do care about is immigration."
Subscribe to 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.
Watch the bizarre segment below, and check out Sean Hannity's gymnastics to avoid the awkward topic here. Jeva Lange
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.
-
See the bright lights from these 7 big-city hotels
The Week Recommends Immerse yourself in culture, history and nightlife
-
Scientists want to regrow human limbs. Salamanders could lead the way.
Under the radar Humans may already have the genetic mechanism necessary
-
Seven wild discoveries about animals in 2025
In depth Mice have Good Samaritan tendencies and gulls work in gangs
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests