WASHINGTON: A new book titled “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power” by Politico reporter Alex Isenstadt alleges that Fox News provided Donald Trump’s presidential campaign with early access to the questions planned for a January 2024 town hall in Iowa.
According to excerpts reported by CNN, just 30 minutes before the event, a senior aide to Trump received text messages from someone inside Fox News. The messages reportedly included images of the exact questions and follow-ups that would be asked during the broadcast, down to their precise wording.
Fox News Denies Evidence but Pledges Investigation:
Fox News has denied any evidence of such a leak.
“While we do not have any evidence of this occurring, and Alex Isenstadt has conveniently refused to release the images for fact-checking, we take these matters very seriously and plan to investigate should there prove to be a breach within the network,” said a spokesperson for the network.
The book also notes that Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, avoided addressing the allegations directly, stating instead:
“President Trump was the most accessible and transparent candidate in American history, and it’s a big reason why he won in historic fashion.”
Details of the Alleged Leak:
The leaked questions reportedly included tough topics like whether Trump would divest from his businesses if elected, his response to indictments, and whether his presidency would focus on “retribution.” Trump was also expected to disavow political violence.
While Trump reportedly disliked the nature of the questions, the early access allowed his team to prepare responses, despite Trump not taking town hall preparations seriously.
Ethics in Journalism Under Scrutiny:
If true, the incident would represent a significant breach of journalism ethics. Networks like Fox News are expected to safeguard the integrity of events such as town halls and debates by preventing unauthorized access to questions.
Alex Isenstadt, the author of the forthcoming book, has not released the images allegedly sent to Trump’s team, leaving room for skepticism about the validity of his claims. The book is set to be published in March.
