By Katherine Tinsley
12:26pm PST, Mar 6, 2025
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In 2023, Fox owner
Rupert Murdoch admitted several hosts "endorsed" Trump's false election fraud claims. The billionaire's comments left Trump outraged, as he aligned himself with the network early in his political career.
"Why is Rupert Murdoch throwing his anchors under the table, which also happens to be killing his case and infuriating his viewers, who will again be leaving in droves — they already are," Trump penned that same year on his Truth Social platform.
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A transcript of Hannity and Trump's conversation was published in Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power.
"Please do not hit Fox, do not hit the Murdoch family. Just please, for the love of God, please don't do it," Hannity said, according to an excerpt obtained by The Washington Post.
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Hannity seemed frustrated with Trump's antics.
"Mr. President, I'm trying to help you out here with the Fox people here," the broadcaster said. "But you're not making it easy for me by going after the Murdochs."
"You're not helping me," he added. "You're not helping yourself. If you can just lay off, we can start making some moves and getting back to normal."
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Trump noticed that Hannity wanted to ease the tension between Murdoch and himself.
"Sean is trying to do the right thing. But, man, the Murdochs? I don't know," he allegedly said.
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Hannity later begged chief of staff Susie Wiles to intervene.
"Susie, are you in the room? Susie, can you talk to the president? For the love of God, can you talk to the president?" Hannity reportedly pleaded.
"Well, Sean, President Trump is going to do what President Trump thinks is best and fair," Wiles replied.
Hannity has since claimed he doesn't remember the conversation.
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Axios journalist Alex Isenstadt, who wrote the explosive biography, claimed Murdoch became close to Doug Burgum during his feud with Trump.
"A relationship was born, and in the weeks that followed the Murdoch empire went all-in for the governor," Isenstadt wrote, noting that the media mogul suggested the former governor of North Dakota should've been Trump's running mate.
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Murdoch and Trump seemingly ended their spat, as the media mogul attended the president's 2025 inauguration.
"Murdoch's theory was that you just had to keep calling Trump," Isenstadt wrote.
"Murdoch was calling so often that once, while talking to Burgum, Trump said: 'I have to go, it's Rupert.' After wrapping up with Murdoch, Trump buzzed Burgum back," he claimed. "But then Trump said he had to drop off. Why? Well, Rupert was calling again."
