New York – Fox News chief Roger Ailes said Tuesday that Donald Trump owes the network’s Megyn Kelly an apology for an unprovoked Twitter attack that “is as unacceptable as it is disturbing.”
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The Republican presidential front-runner-turned-TV-critic had welcomed Kelly back from a vacation Monday night by tweeting that he liked her show better while she was away. Trump said Kelly “must have had a terrible vacation” because “she’s really off her game.” He retweeted a message that referred to her as a bimbo.
“Megyn Kelly represents the very best of American journalism and all of us at Fox News Channel reject the crude and irresponsible attempts to suggest otherwise,” said Ailes, the Fox News Channel chairman. “I could not be more proud of Megyn for her professionalism and class in the face of all of Mr. Trump’s verbal assaults.”
Trump has been attacking Kelly ever since her tough questioning of him during the first GOP presidential debate, seen by 24 million people on Fox on Aug. 6. A day after the debate, he said Kelly had “blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.”
That led to a private, clear-the-air conversation between Ailes and Trump two weeks ago, but that clearly hasn’t led to peace.
In his tweets, Trump repeated his contention that Kelly, host of a prime-time Fox show and one of the network’s biggest stars, was sent on an unplanned vacation that ended Monday. Fox said her time off had been scheduled long before the debate. Trump also tweeted that Kelly was afraid to confront a guest, Dr. Cornel West, and that she had “no clue” on immigration.
Ailes again backed Kelly for her questioning during the debate, which he said was tough but fair.
“Donald Trump rarely apologizes, although in this case, he should,” Ailes said. “We have never been deterred by politicians or anyone else attacking us for doing our job, much less allowed ourselves to be bullied by anyone and we’re certainly not going to start now.”
Some of Kelly’s Fox colleagues also came to her defense. Bret Baier, who moderated the debate with Kelly and Chris Wallace, tweeted that “this needs to stop.” Brian Kilmeade said on “Fox & Friends” that Trump’s comments bothered him personally.
“We are all friends with Donald Trump, but he is totally out of bounds reigniting that fight,” Kilmeade said. “I don’t know if he’s trying to get ratings out of that or poll numbers, but he’s not going to be successful.”
It’s about time!
Roger Ailes tolerates Bill O’Reilly, whom his daughter reported dragging his estranged wife (her Mother), down the staircase of their home by her hair. O’Reilly also tried to have a Nassau County Detective fired, whom is now married to his ex-wife. Also, O’Reilly harassed a female producer on Fox News, costing Fox millions, in legal penalties. In addition, Ailes reinstated a correspondent who was drunk and disorderly at the Minneapolis Airport (he tried to assault a cop there). I guess Ailes has no problem with wife beaters, sexual harassers, and combative alcoholics; yet, he takes umbrage over Trump’s tweet! Give me a break! Since Megyn Kelly never apologized to Trump, for her ridiculous “gotcha” questions at the debate, he is under no obligation to apologize to her. Case closed!!
About time. Someone putting her in her place. His comments about her may have taken just a little off this incredible ego-kelly.
She started first
How come it’s such a big transgression to malign a newsperson, the journalists bad mouth others constantly. free speech only mandated for the press?!
I see the Trump Zombie Brigade is out in full force. What is it about this ignorant blowhard that seems to attract so many middle-aged frum men? Do they envy his faux manliness? Do they wish they were able to dump their current wives every few years for newer models? Do they think he’s a “real man” because he routinely makes demeaning remarks about women? And why do so many frum men seem threatened by an attractive, accomplished, and smart woman like Megyn Kelly — to the point that they applaud Trump for “putting her in her place” and other such nonsense? A good psychologist would find the comments here a gold mine of research into the psyche of losers in the frum oilam who live vicariously through the exploits and insults of this manchild who’s never had a serious thought in his life and who, unlike intelligent and self-made businessmen like Warren Buffett and Mike Bloomberg, inherited a real-estate fortune and even then has had to be rescued time and again by the big banks whose billions kept him propped up.
To #4 -Dave-Your “scholarly remarks and facts” leave a lot to be desired, as they are totally false. While I enjoy seeing some segments of Fox News, I don’t agree with all of their opinions. O’Reilly never admits when he makes mistakes. One time when a Jew working for the post office alleged discrimination, O’Reilly, without having any of the facts on hand, had the gall to state “I doubt if any of this is true”. Another time, when O’Reilly doubted the guilt of a number of US Marines, who were involved in the slaying of an Iraqi family, he also made a similar remark. Even when those Marines were convicted, and the ringleader sentenced to life, he never retracted his erroneous statement. I have no sympathy for Megan Kelly. The press for years have felt that they are an entity unto themselves, and that they are always right. It is about time that they were on the receiving end. Incidentally, I don’t like MSNBC!
To #7 -Yerachmiel- Your statements have no basis in fact. Trump did not “inherit a real estate fortune”. In fact, he started his business in 1971, with $200,000 in capital. On the other hand, in 1981, Bloomberg received a severance package of $10,000,000 after he was let go from the stock brokerage firm, where he worked. Secondly, I don’t care how attractive or unattractive Megan Kelly, or other news media personalities are. If they are out of line, they deserve to be put in their place. For example, Jorge Ramos of Univision repeatedly interrupted Trump yesterday. Trump gave him several chances to be quiet, and then had him escorted out of his press conference. However, a short time later, he very graciously invited him back into the room to ask his question. Trump does not kiss the feet of the media, unlike many politicians, these days. Also, Trump is a good friend of Yidden; to paraphrase what Franklin D. Roosevelt once stated, “With the unbounded determination of our people, we shall gain the inevitable triumph (2016), so help us G-d”.