Fox News (Opinion)
U.S. right
Background
Fox News launched in 1996, founded by Rupert Murdoch and led by Roger Ailes, built around a conservative-leaning alternative to what its founders saw as a liberal mainstream media. It grew into the top-rated U.S. cable news network and became closely aligned with Republican politics, especially during Trump's first term (2017-2021). In 2019, News Corp and Fox split from 21st Century Fox after the Disney acquisition of most Fox entertainment assets, leaving Fox News under the new Fox Corporation. The network paid Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million in 2023 to settle a defamation suit over false 2020 election-fraud claims aired by hosts and guests, one of the largest media defamation settlements in U.S. history. Longtime prime-time host Tucker Carlson was ousted in 2023 amid the Dominion fallout and other controversies. A 2025 Murdoch family trust settlement consolidated voting control of Fox Corporation in Lachlan Murdoch, ending a years-long succession dispute. Fox's opinion lineup remains distinct from its news desk, with hosts like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham serving as reliable defenders of Trump and Republican positions, while the network has drawn criticism for downplaying stories seen as damaging to the president.
Sources
- Fox Corporation - Wikipedia
- Lachlan Murdoch Secures Control of Fox and News Corp After Family Settlement
- Does Fox News Still Support Donald Trump?
- Which Fox News Hosts Have Publicly Broken With or Criticized Trump
Profile compiled 2026-09-25; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.