It was just last week that Fox News host Shepard Smith signed a new contract with the network, while speaking out against the channel's opinion shows during an interview with TIME Magazine. In response to his criticism, some of his fellow hosts were not happy with his comments.
While Shep is a friend with political views I do not share, and great at breaking news, he is clueless about what we do every day. Hannity breaks news daily-Warrant on a Trump assoc, the unmasking scandal, leaking intel, Fisa abuse, HRC lawbreaking, dossier and more REAL NEWS! 9p https://t.co/zJpnnyFTtP
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) March 16, 2018
Fox News backlash
For over two decades, the Fox News Channel has been known for its conservative take on the news, which increased during the eight years Barack Obama was in office.
Since the campaign of Donald Trump and his election that followed, Fox News has provided such favorable coverage of the White House that the president has often praised the network on social media for their reporting, blasting nearly all other news outlets as "fake news." While names like Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and the hosts on "Fox & Friends" have been by Trump's side from the beginning, host Shepard Smith has broken from the pack.
Always liked Shep, but his comments were inconsiderate & inaccurate. The hard working team at the Ingraham Angle does real reporting, develops impt sources and scores big interviews. Very proud of them. https://t.co/3aR1EHAK3Z
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 16, 2018
Shepard Smith often criticizes the president and elaborated further during an interview last week where he referred to Fox News' opinion-based shows as nothing more than "entertainment" due to their over the top support of the Donald Trump.
As seen in a pair of tweets this week, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham made sure to push back. "While Shep (Smith) is a friend with political views I don't share, and is great at breaking news, he's clueless about what we do every day," Hannity wrote, before listing examples of "real news" that he caters to the right-wing base of the Fox News Channel.
Shepard Smith stays on at Fox: "I wonder, if I stopped delivering the facts, what would go in its place" https://t.co/P5K9Uzjh6i
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 16, 2018
In an additional tweet, Laura Ingraham also expressed her opposition to Shepard Smith's remarks. "Always liked Shep, but his comments were inconsiderate and inaccurate," Ingraham tweeted.
"The hard working team at the Ingraham Angle does real reporting, develops impt sources and scores big interviews," she wrote, while adding, "Very proud of them." Not long after the tweets were sent out, Smith announced that he was following through on an already pre-planned vacation.
Next up
While Shepard Smith appears to be one of the few on Fox News to hold Donald Trump accountable, the overwhelming majority on the network are vocal with their support, claiming to be producers of "real news." With Trump facing an onslaught of new scandals by the day, ranging from the Russian investigation to the allegations of an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, it doesn't look like he will be losing support from his friends on Fox News anytime soon, with the apparent lone exception of Smith.
