Trump Attacks Fox News and Jessica Tarlov During Election Coverage

On November 3, 2026, President Donald Trump attacked Fox News and commentator Jessica Tarlov while watching the network’s coverage of the midterm elections. In a Truth Social post, he criticized Tarlov’s voice and said he was switching channels until she was off the air.

Trump also condemned the network’s voter poll, calling its questions insulting. The poll found that 87 percent of respondents were concerned about gas prices and 62 percent attributed them to Trump’s policies. It put his approval rating at 38 percent.

During a live broadcast, Fox host Greg Gutfeld read a message from Trump telling him to relay that gas prices were lower than under Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Trump also said prices and inflation were falling, and disputed the poll’s findings. The report put inflation at 1.7 percent, citing Trump’s post.

Trump further claimed Fox News’ ratings had fallen 27 percent and blamed the network’s coverage of Democrats. He also criticized Fox Corp. over donations to Democratic politicians and groups. The claims about the network’s ratings and donations were part of his social media posts.

Tarlov had challenged comments by other Fox panelists during the election coverage, including their claims about gas prices and Democrats’ religious practices. The midterm contests would decide control of Congress: Democrats needed to gain four Republican-held Senate seats and three House seats to take control of both chambers.

Trump’s Attack on Fox Targets a Critic as Voters Weigh His Record

President Donald Trump’s attack on Fox News and commentator Jessica Tarlov came as voters were considering the cost of living—and as the network’s voter poll found widespread concern about gas prices. On November 3, 2026, Trump said on Truth Social that Tarlov’s voice drove him to change the channel, then branded the poll’s questions insulting.

The poll found 87 percent of respondents concerned about gas prices, with 62 percent blaming Trump’s policies. It also put his approval rating at 38 percent. Those findings sharpened the stakes of a midterm election in which Democrats needed four Senate seats and three House seats to gain control of both chambers.

Trump countered by telling Fox host Greg Gutfeld to pass along his claim that gas prices were lower than under Joe Biden and Barack Obama. He also said prices and inflation were falling. But attacking the network’s coverage does not answer the concern reflected in its poll; it turns scrutiny of voters’ economic worries into a fight with the messenger.

Trump also claimed Fox’s ratings were down 27 percent and blamed coverage of Democrats, while criticizing Fox Corp. donations to Democratic politicians and groups. His claims and complaints added another front to his election-day response, even as voters cast ballots on the economy and other issues.

Trump Challenges Fox Poll and Coverage During Midterms

Donald Trump used Election Day to challenge Fox News over its polling and coverage, arguing that the network’s questions and commentary unfairly framed his record. On November 3, 2026, he attacked commentator Jessica Tarlov on Truth Social and said he changed the channel because of her voice.

Fox’s voter poll found that 87 percent of those surveyed worried about fuel costs, while 62 percent faulted Trump’s policies. Trump called the poll’s questions insulting and told Fox host Greg Gutfeld to relay his claim that gas prices were lower than under Joe Biden and Barack Obama. He also said prices and inflation were falling, while the poll put his approval rating at 38 percent.

The dispute highlights the gap between Trump’s account of the economy and the concerns measured in the network’s survey. He also claimed Fox’s ratings had dropped 27 percent because of its coverage of Democrats and criticized Fox Corp. donations to Democratic politicians and groups.

Democrats needed to gain four Republican-held Senate seats and three House seats to control both chambers. With the midterms determining whether Trump would face a Congress controlled by his opponents, his clash with Fox became part of the election-day battle over economic conditions and the way voters were assessing his administration.