It’s been clear for a while now that Fox News host Sean Hannity is a big supporter of Donald Trump’s, but he let it be known to the world in a new promo video for the campaign—apparently without clearing the appearance with his employer first.
Hannity appears in a Trump campaign video titled “#HEARTLAND4TRUMP,” in which Trump supporters from aging rocker Ted Nugent to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach say their piece about why they’re supporting the GOP nominee.
But Fox News says Hannity did not give the network a heads up about his own cameo.
“We were not aware of Sean Hannity participating in a promotional video and he will not be doing anything along these lines for the remainder of the election season,” a Fox spokesperson said Tuesday in an emailed statement to TPM.
Hannity makes his debut about six minutes into the video, assuring voters that “of course” Trump is going to build a wall to keep out undocumented immigrants and fight to protect their Second Amendment rights.
“One of the reasons I’m supporting Donald Trump this year is number one, he’s going to put originalists on the Supreme Court, people that believe in fidelity to the Constitution, separation of powers, co-equal branches of government,” he says in the video. “He’s a guy that will vet refugees to keep Americans safe. And of course he’s gonna build that wall. He says he’s gonna have Mexico pay for it. That’s fine, as long as we secure the country and, of course, we don’t want people competing for jobs. He said he will eliminate Obamacare, make us energy-independent. And as somebody who’s been a marksman since I’m 11 years old, protecting our Second Amendment rights are paramount to me.”
This is only the most blatant demonstration of Hannity’s support in recent months. The Fox host reportedly flew former House Speaker Newt Gingrich out to see the GOP nominee when he was vetting vice presidential picks, and he has praised Trump repeatedly on his show.
He’s also notoriously blown up during a rant on his show at Republicans who’ve criticized Trump, saying he was “getting a little sick and tired” of them and planned to pin the blame on them if Trump lost on Election Day.
Watch the full ad below. Hannity appears around the 6 minute mark:
So is Hannity going to be taken off the air since he has pledged allegiance to Drumpfy?
Hannity holds weekly, hour long Trump infomercials on Fox News every week. Now Fox is shocked that he’s a Trump toadie?
Is Fox News really prepared to take action against Hannity if he continues to defy management? My guess is ‘no’.
I’m sure they will demote or fire him as they did with Andrea Tantaros when she failed to clear the cover of her book. If not, I wonder how that will look in the discrimination suit she’s brought against Fox.
It’s reassuring to know that they’ve already selected a scapegoat when the Orange Mussolini becomes America’s Biggest Loser come Nov.