Conservative Commentators on Fox News React to Trump’s Conviction
In a surprising turn of events, conservative commentators on Fox News have shifted their tone after former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 charges in New York. Previously downplaying and disparaging the criminal charges as a partisan witch hunt, they now strike a righteous tone, expressing disappointment with the verdict but arguing that it will ultimately strengthen Trump and unleash his base.
Prominent Fox News hosts such as Jeanine Pirro, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity have voiced their concerns about the conviction, with Pirro calling it a “very sad day for all of us” and Ingraham labeling it “a disgraceful day for the United States.” Hannity went as far as to call it “a conviction without a crime.”
Accusations of covert influence from the Biden administration in steering the criminal indictments facing Trump have been rampant among Fox News hosts. Greg Gutfeld accused allies of colluding to eliminate a shared adversary, while Hannity criticized the judge as a “far-left, partisan judge.”
Jesse Watters took a more combative stance, vowing to avenge the convictions and seek justice for what he sees as a biased jury. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, however, praised the panel’s conduct during a guest appearance on Watters’s show.
Despite the verdict, Pirro remains optimistic, believing that it will “energize” Trump and his base for the upcoming election. Ingraham, on the other hand, expressed concern about the precedent set by the conviction, warning that it could lead to a new normal of putting political opponents in jail.
In a call to action, Ingraham and Watters urged conservative viewers to mobilize for the election, with Ingraham urging them to “recommit yourself to saving America from these vindictive, far-left tyrants.” Hannity echoed Trump’s sentiments, reminding viewers that they “get to render the final verdict in this case” on Election Day.
The reactions from conservative commentators on Fox News highlight the deep divide in opinions surrounding Trump’s conviction and its implications for the future of American politics.