A conservative media rivalry is heating up as Fox News comes under fire from far-right competitor Newsmax, which claims the network’s recent drop in ratings stems from a perceived shift away from support for President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Newsmax aired a segment criticizing Fox News, asserting that the network has alienated its viewer base by adopting an “anti-Trump” stance. The argument follows a troubling trend for Fox, which has witnessed a significant decline in its audience, particularly among its pro-Trump following.
The criticism reflects a growing discontent within the MAGA community toward Fox News, a long-established ally of Trump. This unease gained momentum after Trump pointed fingers at the network while grappling with disappointing poll numbers ahead of the midterms.
Trump suggested that Fox’s focus on perceived negative coverage from “Trump deranged Democrats” contributed to their ratings woes, indicative of a shift in the narrative among his supporters.
Newsmax highlighted a dramatic 40% drop in Fox’s election night viewership, plummeting from 7.4 million viewers in 2022 to just 4.3 million this year. This metric reinforces the narrative that the network is no longer resonating with its conservative base.
Fox’s viewership struggles have been further compounded by a year-over-year decline of 27% in October. The network’s CEO, Lachlan Murdoch, attributed the situation to “viewer fatigue,” a characterization that is being disputed by some MAGA commentators.
Newsmax contributor Cheryl Chumley slammed this notion of fatigue, arguing instead that Fox’s troubles stem from its abandonment of core conservative values. She emphasized that reports showcasing Trump’s approval ratings are perceived as “Trump bashing.”
The debate surrounding Fox’s current trajectory exposes deeper rifts within the conservative media landscape, particularly as figures like former Trump advisor Peter Navarro argue that Fox has become too aligned with “RINO Republicans.”
Navarro claims that Fox’s editorial choices, such as involving anti-Trump commentators, have alienated their traditional viewers, who are looking for a steadfastly pro-Trump platform.
This discontent isn’t solely directed at Fox. Some experts note that Newsmax, while attempting to position itself as the go-to MAGA outlet, is also facing significant audience losses—down about 25% this year and averaging just 127,000 daily viewers.
Justin Baragona, a media columnist for Zeteo, pointed out that Newsmax’s attempts to mock Fox over its ratings drop highlight their own impending challenges. The aggressive move to cater to a more radicalized MAGA audience has ironically left Newsmax struggling for viewership as well.
Talk radio host TJ McCormick suggested that Fox began losing its conservative foothold when it controversially called Arizona for Biden in the 2020 election. McCormick posited that this marked the beginning of a long-term shift in viewer loyalty.
Despite Fox having made adjustments—such as parting ways with key figures like Tucker Carlson amid controversies—the criticism persists. McCormick highlights continued claims of anti-Trump sentiment at Fox, suggesting that MAGA viewers are continuously exploring alternatives.
This complex interaction of ratings, viewer loyalty, and editorial direction reveals how challenging the media landscape has become for outlets attempting to navigate a deeply polarized political environment.
As the 2024 elections approach, the stakes are high for both Fox and Newsmax. Each network is striving to retain its ideological core while grappling with their declining audiences.
The fallout from this media feud may shape the narrative of conservative media as they vie for the hearts and minds of Trump supporters, many of whom are reevaluating their long-held loyalties.
As viewers seek more robust support for Trump and his policies, the response from both networks may determine who ultimately retains a foothold in the conservative media market.
This struggle within the right-wing media sphere signals a broader reconsideration among conservatives about where to turn for news and analysis as the political landscape continues to evolve.
