Even though his cable “news” channel refused to air the first public hearing of the January 6 House Select Committee on Thursday evening, two influential newspapers owned by Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch lit into failed, one-term former president Donald Trump in blistering op-eds they published, suggesting that the ex-president “bears responsibility for the mayhem” that took place on that fateful day.
The first op-ed appeared in the Wall Street Journal, and it didn’t pull any punches regarding Trump and the horror we watched unfold on the day thousands of Trump supporters attacked the seat of government:
The President spread falsehoods about the election. He invited supporters to Washington on Jan. 6, tweeting on Dec. 19 that it ‘will be wild!’ He riled up the crowd and urged it to march on the Capitol. After violence began, he dawdled instead of sending help. Mr. Trump bears responsibility for the mayhem. But inspiring followers to march is not the same as leading a criminal conspiracy.
The Journal editorial board was also critical of Trump’s attacks on the committee:
“Mr. Trump betrayed his supporters by conning them on Jan. 6, and he is still doing it.”
There was a similar op-ed in the New York Post, along with a warning for Republicans to stop spreading Trump’s lies about the 2020 election:
Trump has become a prisoner of his own ego. He can’t admit his tweeting and narcissism turned off millions. He won’t stop insisting that 2020 was ‘stolen’ even though he’s offered no proof that it’s true. Respected officials like former Attorney General Bill Barr call his rants ‘nonsense.’ This isn’t just about Liz Cheney. Mitch McConnell, Betsy DeVos, Mark Meadows — they all knew Trump was delusional. His own daughter and son-in-law testified it was bull.
Of course, if Murdoch had any balls, he would have demanded that Thursday’s hearings be aired in full on Fox. Instead, he and his son, Lachlan, caved to the whims of right-wing douches like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, both of whom deserve to be locked up for their roles in January 6.
