President Donald Trump sharply criticized media mogul Rupert Murdoch, calling him a "piece of s---," after Murdoch's New York Post mocked Trump's announcement to run for re-election in 2024, underscoring growing tensions between two influential figures whose relationship has oscillated dramatically over recent years.
The remarks emerged from a forthcoming book, "All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America," authored by journalist Michael Wolff, which highlights escalating tensions between Trump and Murdoch. According to Wolff, Trump lashed out following a derisive New York Post headline mocking his presidential campaign announcement, labeling Murdoch "so cold" and his son, James Murdoch, a "crazy f***ing liberal."
Wolff described Murdoch's own sentiments toward Trump as equally strained. "In his heart of hearts, Rupert hates Trump. He kind of thinks Donald Trump is a moron," Wolff stated in his new book. He elaborated further, saying Murdoch has confided to multiple people, including Wolff himself, that he views Trump with disdain and regards him as intellectually inadequate.
Historically, Rupert Murdoch's media empire, particularly Fox News and the New York Post, significantly contributed to Trump's political rise. Yet, their alliance has seen periodic friction, notably after the January 6 Capitol riots, when Murdoch allegedly wanted Trump to become a "non-person," according to emails revealed during the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit.
Recently, Murdoch's outlets have been increasingly critical of Trump's policies. Murdoch reportedly expressed frustration over Trump's policies on immigration and trade, accusing the president of selling Americans out by initiating what Murdoch characterized as the "dumbest trade war in history," specifically referencing Trump's tariffs.
The rift between Trump and Murdoch is not new but reflects longstanding tensions occasionally tempered by pragmatic political alliances. Fox News initially distanced itself from Trump after the January 6 riots, but the network eventually shifted back toward him, acknowledging the former president's critical role in drawing viewers.
"Did Trump need Fox, or did Fox need Trump?" Wolff asks rhetorically in his book. Initially, Murdoch believed Fox News could deprive Trump of crucial media exposure after the 2020 election and subsequent Capitol riot. However, Wolff concludes, Murdoch quickly realized "Fox needed Trump more than the other way around."
These revelations come amid broader uncertainties surrounding Trump's second presidency, which has been punctuated by controversial decisions including mass layoffs of federal workers, threats to impose severe tariffs on Canada, and aggressive rhetoric aimed at reshaping America's political and economic landscape.
Further complicating the relationship, Wolff's book recounts a reported private episode where Trump openly ridiculed Murdoch's son, James Murdoch, to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, referring to the younger Murdoch as a "crazy f---ing liberal." Trump's volatile relationship with Murdoch is part of a larger pattern of feuds, including tense interactions with other prominent figures.
The White House strongly criticized Wolff's book, with a spokesperson branding Wolff as a "lying sack of s---," suffering from a "severe and debilitating case of Trump derangement syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain." Trump himself took to Truth Social to denounce the work as "FAKE NEWS," calling Wolff a "lying sack of s---" whose stories amount to "made up stories."
Despite Trump's angry public response, Wolff also highlighted the complexities in Trump's personal life, particularly regarding his marriage to Melania Trump. Wolff quotes a "Mar-a-Lago patio confidant" who bluntly stated, "She f------ hates him," adding that Melania's whereabouts during Trump's reelection campaign remain largely a mystery.
