Fox News, known for its conservative-leaning and previous support for the Trump administration, recently faced criticism for a news alert referring to President Joe Biden as a “wannabe dictator.” The chyron appeared on-screen during footage of Biden’s remarks at the White House, coinciding with former President Donald Trump’s indictment on federal charges.
This incident, along with host Brian Kilmeade’s erroneous reference to Trump as the “president,” has sparked controversy and raised questions about Fox News’ approach to reporting.
During the 8 p.m. broadcast of “Fox News Tonight,” a split-screen display showed Biden and Trump speaking at separate locations. At the bottom of the screen, the chyron read, “Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.”
Although Biden was not mentioned by name, the implication was clear. The use of the term “wannabe dictator” was unusually strong, even for a network known for its critical stance toward the Biden administration.
Brian Kilmeade, the host of “Fox News Tonight,” also made an unintentional mistake by referring to Trump as the “president of the United States” before Trump began speaking at his New Jersey club.
A Fox News spokesperson acknowledged the errors and stated that the chyron was removed immediately and addressed. They also clarified that Kilmeade’s comment was unintentional.
Donald Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, faced federal charges on the same day as the news alert. He pleaded not guilty to counts related to handling classified documents and failing to return them after leaving office.
Some major television networks have chosen not to broadcast Trump’s speeches live, fearing that it may provide a platform for spreading misinformation. Fox News has occasionally cut away from Trump’s speeches since the 2020 election but has also given them prime-time slots, as seen on this occasion.
Fox News received backlash for a news alert referring to President Biden as a “wannabe dictator” during footage of his White House remarks.
This incident, coupled with an unintentional error by host Brian Kilmeade, has raised concerns about the network’s reporting and its relationship with the Trump administration. As major networks grapple with how to cover Trump’s speeches, the controversy highlights the challenges faced by media outlets in maintaining balanced and responsible journalism.
