President Trump lashed out Sunday at Fox News, accusing the network of giving Democrats a platform to attack Republicans over the government shutdown and trying to be “politically correct.”
Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans continue to blame Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and his Democratic colleagues for the shutdown, citing their opposition to a “clean” stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government and open up more time for health care talks.
The president took particular issue with Fox White House correspondent Peter Doocy, co-host of “The Sunday Briefing,” for airing an interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona Democrat.
In the segment, Mr. Kelly argued that Democrats are fighting to protect health care for millions of Americans, not to expand coverage to illegal immigrants.
“The FAKE SPIN is so bad for Republicans that it is hard to believe that we WIN,” Mr. Trump posted on social media. “It will be very unfair, in the future, when they don’t have ‘TRUMP’ to fight for them.”
“Fox should either get on board, or get off board, NOW, but at this point, it just doesn’t make any difference to me,” he posted.
In his interview, Mr. Kelly pushed back against GOP claims that Democrats want to provide health care to illegal immigrants.
“Federal law is that undocumented individuals do not have access to Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps or even the Affordable Care Act,” Mr. Kelly said. “That’s the law.”
He called the Republican attacks a “red herring,” accusing them of trying to distract from the fact that Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” cut health care benefits for Americans to fund tax breaks for the wealthy.
“This is about real people who are going to see the price of health care skyrocket,” Mr. Kelly said.
Mr. Trump also complained that Fox News refuses to highlight his “record” poll numbers, while readily airing surveys that show voter dissatisfaction.
“Republicans are so tired of this fight with Fox always trying to be so ‘politically correct!’” he posted.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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