It’s pretty clear that the Fox moderators were coming down pretty hard on Trump, and although he got the most speaking time, he wasn’t really asked much on policy. Instead, he was put on defensive (more than the others) about his elect-ability and tone.
After the debate, Trump complained that the moderators asked him “unfair” questions, and criticized Fox’s Megyn Kelly for a question she asked about his comments toward women. Even Trump competitor Lindsay Graham agreed that the moderators engaged “more of an inquisition” when it came to Trump.
And following the debate, pollster Frank Luntz compiled a focus group of Republicans on Fox, who generally showed disfavor to Trump. It seems obvious that Roger Ailes instructed the Fox people to go after Trump, something Megyn Kelly clearly was ready to do.
At the Intelligencer, a reporter writes:
Campaign lawyer Michael Cohentweeted that it was a “total setup” designed to “lower #Trump2016 high poll numbers.” Another Trump adviser told me that the debate was “vicious” and a “hit job.”
Trump took to Twitter last night to vent:
.@FrankLuntz is a low class slob who came to my office looking for consulting work and I had zero interest. Now he picks anti-Trump panels!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
.@FrankLuntz I won every poll of the debate tonight by massive margins @DRUDGE_REPORT & @TIME so where did you find that dumb panel.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
Wow, @megynkelly really bombed tonight. People are going wild on twitter! Funny to watch.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
.@FrankLuntz, your so-called “focus groups” are a total joke. Don’t come to my office looking for business again. You are a clown!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
I really enjoyed the debate tonight even though the @FoxNews trio, especially @megynkelly, was not very good or professional!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
This is the kind of schism I enjoy. What happens when the right wing go-to news channel attacks the most popular right-wing candidate? This is rather unprecedented. Ultimately, Trump is going to lose, and Fox will go on. But is Fox News alienating some of its viewers in the process? And where will they go for their news and information?