REPORT: Fox News’ Preferred Trump Alternative Identified, And It Isn’t DeSantis

Fox News, battered by former President Donald Trump’s recent decision to snub its upcoming coverage of the first GOP presidential debate, has pivoted to its latest favorite alternative candidate as the network seeks to align itself with anyone except the field’s White House winner.

An analysis by the Daily Beast of Fox’s recent programming shows the network is increasingly interested in covering businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. According to TVEyes, Ramaswamy has been mentioned at least 200 times over the past week and appeared in six interviews which touted his rise in the polls and ability to connect with younger generations of voters. The 37-year-old may be the youngest presidential candidate to ever make a serious run of it, and he now has the backing of a major center-right network to prove it.

From the Daily Beast:

Over the past week, Fox News has mentioned Ramaswamy at least 200 times, according to media monitoring service TVEyes. He’s also appeared for a half-dozen interviews, during which the network has applauded his rising popularity or gushed over his “respectful” handling of an interaction with a pansexual activist at the Iowa State Fair. Fox hosts simply cannot get over Ramaswamy’s ability to rap Eminem lyrics, believing he tapped into “music that really appeals to Gen-Z’ers.”

While repeatedly declaring Ramaswamy “brilliant” and hammering away at DeSantis’ embarrassing debate prep, the Friends crew declared that Vivek has the “perfect message”—e.g., he’s a young guy who likes everything Trump did and wants the twice-impeached ex-president as a mentor.

Originally a fan of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch has grown increasingly embittered with his decision to back him following a glitch-ridden rollout, snappy retorts to his fall in the polls, and poor financial management which saw the governor lay off his campaign manager and fire a third of his field staffers. Recent coverage of DeSantis by Fox has grown harsher as the Floridian leader has been boxed into answering questions about early campaign struggles, including the loss of endorsements by many of his state’s Republican congressmen as they flocked to Trump.

The contrast could not be more clear between DeSantis and Ramaswamy when it comes to how both have addressed President Trump’s position in the GOP field. While DeSantis has struck a decisively negative tone and turned off many of the president’s loyal supporters, Ramaswamy has stood by him and earned their praise. The biotech entrepreneur made a show of promising to pardon the 45th president during one of his criminal indictments and filing a Freedom of Information Act request during another one alleging political manipulation by the Biden Justice Department.

As it gears up to host the first GOP debate on Wednesday, Fox News will most likely give Ramaswamy a prime spot on the debate stage and attempt to goad him into questions about his rivalry with Gov. DeSantis as well as his thoughts on the rest of the field. The Republican National Committee on Tuesday announced both men would be joined by six other candidates who reached the benchmarks for participation, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.