Donald Trump targeted Bill O’Reilly with a series of tweets Monday night criticizing the Fox News host for bringing on guests critical of Trump, including Fox contributors Charles Krauthammer and Brit Hume.
.@oreillyfactor was very negative to me in refusing to to post the great polls that came out today including NBC. @FoxNews not good for me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
.@oreillyfactor, why don’t you have some knowledgeable talking heads on your show for a change instead of the same old Trump haters. Boring!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
I am having a really hard time watching @FoxNews.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
Trump also retweeted some of his supporters’ complaints about O’Reilly and Fox News on Monday night and Tuesday morning:
“@RagingCynicism: @realDonaldTrump @oreillyfactor they’re not Trump haters. They’re spoon fed morons.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
“@coolgirl6978: @oreillyfactor @FoxNews this is bull fox. O’Reilly, I expect better from you. What is going on? Fair and balanced my ass”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
“@JodiL792: @FoxNews I have been since you started running & I noticed Meghan Kelly’s attacks. Stopped watching. Only Hannity 4 sure.” Yes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
He even criticized Megyn Kelly when prompted by another tweet.
“@diannrr: @megynkelly Do you dream about @realDonaldTrump? He’s in your head. Let it go.” She is the worst – all anti-Trump! Terrible show.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015
O’Reilly responded to Trump’s criticism during a Tuesday morning appearance on NBC’s “Today.”
“He wants people to like him. When people criticize him, he takes it personally,” O’Reilly said.
The Fox host said that Twitter gives Trump a platform to complain.
“That’s like the worst thing you can give Donald Trump, is this tweeting thing. So I just think this is an extension of his reality show, ‘The Apprentice.’ This is just theater right now. He gets a lot of attention from the theater,” he said.
O’Reilly did say that Trump will likely continue to be competitive in the Republican presidential primary.
“I think Trump is good for politics in America. Everybody else is bashing the hell out of Donald Trump. That’s the chic thing to do,” he said. “But he has engaged people. He has forced people to pay attention, and they are paying attention, and that is good for America.”
