Nepotism Pioneer Lara Trump to Host Fox News Show

Photo: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Redux

Lara Trump announced in December that “after an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many,” she had decided to remove herself from consideration for an appointment to the U.S. Senate — a position she actually hadn’t been offered. In the same message, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law teased: “I do have a big announcement that I’m excited to share in January, so, stay tuned.”

It turns out “stay tuned” was a hint. On Wednesday, Fox News announced that she will host a show on the network. But no one would have guessed that six weeks ago, as it was a simpler time when the Trumps could not do whatever the hell they felt like.

As you probably do not recall, Trump joined Fox News as a paid contributor in March 2021 but was let go in December 2022. At the time, the Los Angeles Times reported: “Fox News has made it a rule not to employ people running for office or directly connected to active campaigns.”

But apparently, Fox News has decided that it’s fine to employ people directly connected to active presidential administrations.

My View With Lara Trump will air on Saturdays at 9 p.m. starting February 22. In a press release, chief executive Suzanne Scott said: “A gifted communicator who knows how to connect to the viewers, successful entrepreneur, and working mother, Lara’s innate understanding of the American public and today’s political landscape will be a compelling addition to our weekend lineup.”

And here’s what Trump, a woman “gifted” with an “innate understanding” of her own family’s political agenda had to say about her new gig: “I’m thrilled to bring my voice back to Fox News, talk directly with the American people, and highlight what makes this country so great. As I cover the success of the golden age of America, I look forward to where this time will lead our country and where this opportunity will lead me in the future.”

Lara getting this “opportunity” is really blazing new trails for presidential nepotism, as the New York Times explained in an eerily detached tone:

The president and his children are frequent guests on Fox News. But there is no precedent for the close relative of a sitting president to host a high-profile show on a major television news channel.

People have been accusing Fox News of blurring the line between serious news and “state media” for years. And to be clear, Fox News viewers getting Trump-family talking points straight from the source for one hour on Saturday night is a far cry from say, Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on independent media in Russia. But it’s not great!