Trump Administration 2.0: Business As Usual For Fox News

President-elect Donald J. Trump is bringing a significant number of former Fox News personnel into his second administration. Nineteen former Fox News hosts, commentators, on-air medical experts, producers, and other personnel are set to occupy roles in his cabinet and staff. 

The NY Times reports the number is unprecedented, as no single media organization has ever exported so many alumni to a president's day-one cabinet and staff.

Trump's relationship with Fox News has been complex, with the network being both a powerful booster and a frequent target of his ire. Now, Fox News correspondents will be reporting on an administration populated by many of their former colleagues.

Pete Hegseth

Jay Wallace, the president and executive editor of Fox News Media, stated that the network's coverage of the Trump administration will be "business as usual". However, there may be some changes in the style of reporting, particularly for correspondents like Peter Doocy, who may adopt a less adversarial approach due to Trump's relative openness with the media.

Other network news leaders have flown to Florida to meet with Mr. Trump’s transition team, although not all scored a face-to-face with Mr. Trump. Debra OConnell, the Disney executive who oversees ABC News, dined in December with Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff.

Other news networks have had ties to a sitting president. Jon Meacham was still a MSNBC contributor when he began writing speeches for Mr. Biden. (MSNBC promptly ended Mr. Meacham’s contract.) The current White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, was previously an MSNBC pundit. MSNBC also hired Jen Psaki and Symone D. Sanders — the former chief spokeswomen for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris — after they left the Biden administration.