Sean Hannity and Fox News asserted Monday that he wasn’t going to be on stage “campaigning” with President Donald Trump at a political rally the day before Election Day — perhaps leading readers to believe he hasn’t endorsed, campaigned for or appeared on stage with GOP candidates for office and other politicians in recent years.
But the television and radio personality has repeatedly made clear that he sees himself as both a partisan operator and a media presence, endorsing and appearing with candidates for office over and over again.
Here’s a brief timeline of Hannity’s most prominent political endorsements and appearances in recent years:
On March 11, 2016, Hannity interviewed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), then a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, at a rally in Orlando. The Orlando Sentinel recorded the event and reported: “GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz, interviews with TV-host Sean Hannity during a rally at the Faith Assembly of God church, in Orlando, Fla.” Cruz and Hannity appeared together at several campaign events in 2016, including one in February at which Hannity looked on as Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) endorsed Cruz on stage.
On March 18, 2016, Hannity interviewed Cruz again, this time in Arizona. Hannity aired the interview footage on his show but noted, referring to members of the audience holding “CHOOSE CRUZ” signs: “They’re here for an event that was put together by the super PAC Keep the Promise.” Cruz and Hannity spoke against a backdrop of “CHOOSE CRUZ” and “KEEP THE PROMISE” logos.
On Sept. 26, 2016, Hannity appeared in a Donald Trump campaign video, apparently without telling his bosses at Fox News ahead of time. “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 told TPM at the time.
On April 6, 2017, Hannity endorsed Amy Kremer for Congress.
On July 19, 2017, Hannity endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for re-election. At the time, Cruz noted: “You endorsed me early in the primary when I first ran for Senate in 2012” — Here’s that tape.
On Nov. 8, 2017, Hannity endorsed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach to be governor of Kansas.
On Jan. 17, 2018, Hannity endorsed then-Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to be governor of Florida.
On June 26, 2018, Hannity headlined the 2018 Manhattan GOP Freedom Gala “in support of Chele Farley for U.S. Senate,” according to Farley’s campaign. Farley’s campaign made Hannity’s political involvement explicit: “With the federal filing deadline approaching, Hannity and the Manhattan GOP are helping to cap a strong fundraising quarter for Farley in her bid to unseat the Senate’s top obstructionist and 2020 presidential poser Kirsten Gillibrand.”
On July 2, 2018, Hannity appeared at three campaign rallies in one day in support of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and DeSantis. “We need these guys in office for us,” Hannity said while pointing to DeSantis and Gaetz, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
On Sept. 20, 2018, Hannity interviewed Trump ahead of a campaign rally in Las Vegas. He autographed “Make America Great Again” hats and threw them to fans. “I know this crowd— You ready to hear the President?” he asked rally attendees, to cheers.
everything about Ted Cruz’s face is unnatural
I’m curious what this collaborator’s gonna look like after V-T Day.
Somebody needs to Photoshop a picture of him with a shaved head.
Remind me again what happened to Tokyo Rose…?
Oh FFS
Any pretense of impartiality is destroyed within 2 nanoseconds of turning on a Hannity Show .
Faux knows it’s the propaganda arm of the Republican party
as does Trump
as do those only appear on Faux politicians
as does every sentient being on the planet
It’s not “campaigning” Sean’s “covering” GOP candidates…
(In massage oil)
Hannity would be fired for illegal campaigning if he were on a news station. On Trump TV™️, of course, it doesn’t matter.