Though Fox News hosts remained largely silent during Donald Trump’s first spat with Megyn Kelly, the channel’s personalities were quick to defend their colleague Tuesday morning after Trump again decided to ridicule Kelly.
Trump had patched up his relationship with Fox after commenting that Kelly “had blood coming out of her wherever” during the first Republican presidential debate. However, on Monday night he said Kelly was “off her game” upon returning from vacation. He also retweeted a comment calling Kelly a “bimbo.”
During “Fox and Friends” on Tuesday morning, co-host Brian Kilmeade said Trump’s tweets attacking Kelly were “totally out of control” and “unwarranted.”
“You cannot, you should not be going after her,” he said. “He is totally out of bounds reigniting that fight. I don’t know if he expects to get ratings out of that, or poll numbers, but he’s not going to be successful.”
Numerous hosts and contributors on Fox News followed suit with tweets defending Kelly and calling out Trump’s retweet of a comment calling Kelly a “bimbo.”
The intelligence, class & grace of @megynkelly shined last night after her week’s vacation with her family. I’ll be on #kellyfile Wed night.
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) August 25, 2015
This needs to stop. #unpresidential @megynkelly @nypost @realDonaldTrump http://t.co/82V47GhgTE
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) August 25, 2015
Wish pal @realDonaldTrump would cool feud with @megynkelly Point is made boss. Now world needs you to use bully pulpit to address big issues
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) August 25, 2015
Please shut up. https://t.co/mTNVwRyJsD
— Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) August 25, 2015
Easy, Mr. Trump.
— Bill Hemmer (@BillHemmer) August 25, 2015
Not okay. https://t.co/9ME6tbhDOL
— Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) August 25, 2015
On Tuesday afternoon, Fox host Sean Hannity told Trump in a tweet to leave Megyn Kelly alone.
In a Tuesday statement, Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes called on Trump to apologize for his latest comments about Kelly.
“Donald Trump’s surprise and unprovoked attack on Megyn Kelly during her show last night is as unacceptable as it is disturbing. Megyn Kelly represents the very best of American journalism and all of us at FOX News Channel reject the crude and irresponsible attempts to suggest otherwise,” Ailes said.
This post has been updated.
