Trump reportedly ranks reporters' loyalty on a scale of 1 to 10. Steve Doocy is a 12.


President Trump is reportedly so obsessed with individual news reporters and their coverage of him that he's got a whole ranking system worked out.
Trump, writes The New Yorker's Jane Mayer, "has told confidants that he has ranked the loyalty of many reporters, on a scale of 1 to 10."
This seems to mainly apply to Fox News personalities, with Bret Baier apparently getting a 6. Sean Hannity, naturally, gets a 10. But Hannity is outranked by one of his colleagues. Fox & Friends' Steve Doocy, Mayer writes, is "so adoring that Trump gives him a 12."
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.
Hannity will probably be bummed to learn he isn't considered the most loyal Trump supporter at the network, even though he has reportedly told his colleagues he and the president speak on the phone "virtually every night." But Fox & Friends also seems to be Trump's favorite show on the network; one Republican lobbyist told The New Yorker, "Trump gets up and watches Fox & Friends and thinks these are his friends."
This detail comes as part of a larger piece about the blurred lines between the Trump administration and Fox News, and it's apparently not just Hannity and Trump who speak frequently. Fox Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner reportedly talk, according to one source, "like, every day."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Wonder drug': the potential health benefits of creatine
The Explainer Popular fitness supplement shows promise in easing symptoms of everything from depression to menopause and could even help prevent Alzheimer's
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 – 30 May
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Trump's super-charged pardon push raises eyebrows and concerns
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Never shy about using his pardon ability for political leverage, Trump's spate of amnesty announcements suggests the White House is taking things to a new level
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
'Physicians today have a number of ways of categorizing pain'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Deportations: Miller's threat to the courts
Feature The Trump administration is considering suspending habeas corpus to speed up deportations without due process
-
Asylum: Only white Afrikaners need apply
Feature Trump welcomes white Afrikaner farmers while shutting down the asylum program for non-white refugees