Accuracy in Media

So far, only Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand and Pete Buttigieg have participated in town halls hosted by Fox News.

It was Elizabeth Warren who first declined a Fox town hall invite because she thought the network was a “hate-for-profit racket” for Trump. Kamala Harris followed closely behind Warren and said she wouldn’t participate. 

On Sunday, Buttigieg appeared in a Fox News hosted town hall with Chris Wallace. He faced tough questions on abortion and the economy. Buttigieg singled out Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson and criticized Fox News.

President Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize Buttigieg.

Hard to believe that @FoxNews is wasting airtime on Mayor Pete, as Chris Wallace likes to call him. Fox is moving more and more to the losing (wrong) side in covering the Dems. They got dumped from the Democrats boring debates, and they just want in. They forgot the people…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019

….who got them there. Chris Wallace said, “I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pete has a lot of substance…fascinating biography.” Gee, he never speaks well of me – I like Mike Wallace better…and Alfred E. Newman will never be President!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019

Buttigieg took to Twitter Sunday to express why he decided to go on Fox News.

Even though some of these hosts are not always there in good faith, I think a lot of people tune into this network in good faith.

Whether it’s going on Fox or going into places where Democrats haven’t been seen much, we have to find people where they are–not change our values. pic.twitter.com/xNHoD0uzE4

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) May 20, 2019

But it is Buttigieg’s party (Chairman Tom Perez) said they will deny all requests from Fox News to host primary debates because the network cannot be relied on to “host a fair and neutral debate.”

WATCH the town hall here:

Marissa Martinez is a political contributor for Accuracy in Media. She is the former political director to Massachusetts Governor’s re-election campaign, alumna of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and political consultant to national PACs. Follow her stories, @MarissaAlisa.

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