Fox News Grapples With Trump’s Sinking Approval Ratings, as Hosts Lament ‘Unfair’ Scrutiny in On-Air Frustrations

NEW YORK — Fox News, the steadfast bulwark of President Trump’s media ecosystem, found itself in an uncharacteristic state of disarray this week as hosts openly vented frustration over the president’s plummeting approval ratings, with one morning show devolving into a heated debate that critics dubbed a “live meltdown” and supporters hailed as a raw defense of their embattled leader.

The tension peaked Thursday on “Fox & Friends,” the network’s flagship morning program, where co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones dissected a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Mr. Trump’s approval at a second-term low of 38 percent — a nine-point plunge since January. Ms. Earhardt read the numbers aloud, her voice measured but tinged with disbelief: “Only 38 percent approve. That’s lower than Biden’s at this point in his term.” Mr. Kilmeade interjected sharply, slamming his hand on the desk: “This is unfair! He’s been in office less than a year — give the man a chance!” Mr. Jones, usually the program’s affable voice, pushed back: “But the economy’s what’s killing us here. Groceries up 12 percent, utilities spiking — people feel it in their wallets, not polls.”

The exchange, which lasted nearly seven minutes and drew 2.1 million viewers, captured a network unmoored: Hosts contradicting one another in real time, pivoting from poll denial to economic finger-pointing, all while scrambling to square Mr. Trump’s “America First” promises with voter discontent. Clips spread virally on social media, amassing over 15 million views on X and TikTok, where users mocked the “panic mode” with memes of the anchors’ furrowed brows set to dramatic soundtracks. “Fox melting down on air — it’s like watching the Titanic crew argue over icebergs,” one X user posted, echoing a sentiment that trended under #FoxMeltdown.

The outburst reflected deeper anxieties at Fox, where executives have long navigated a tightrope: bolstering Mr. Trump to retain their core audience while gently nudging him toward policies that might broaden his appeal. A separate Fox News poll released Wednesday painted an even grimmer picture, with 76 percent of respondents viewing the economy negatively — Mr. Trump’s approval on economic matters underwater at 42 percent approve to 55 percent disapprove, the lowest in any CNBC survey across his two terms. Hosts like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham have ramped up defenses, with Ms. Ingraham challenging Mr. Trump in a Monday interview on his skilled immigration stance — a rare pushback that drew MAGA backlash online. “Are you saying voters are misperceiving how they feel?” she pressed, sounding skeptical of his claim that costs were “way down.” Mr. Trump, defensive, replied: “My poll numbers just went down” — a quip that underscored the bind.

Behind the scenes, the network is scrambling. Two people familiar with internal discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, described heated editorial meetings where producers debated how to frame the Epstein files controversy — Mr. Trump’s signing of the bipartisan unsealing bill after initial resistance — without alienating viewers. “It’s chaos,” one said. “The base wants blood on the economy and immigration, but Trump’s zigzagging on H-1B visas and tariffs. We’re contradicting ourselves just to keep up.” Ratings for prime-time shows dipped 8 percent week-over-week, per Nielsen data, as audiences tuned out amid the government shutdown’s ripple effects.

Mr. Trump, whose Truth Social posts have increasingly targeted the press, amplified the Fox frustrations Thursday evening, reposting a clip of the “Fox & Friends” debate with the caption: “Even FAKE FOX NEWS knows the polls are RIGGED! Deep State at work — we’re WINNING BIGLY!” The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, defended the president’s record in a briefing Friday, dismissing the polls as “Democrat-funded fiction” and highlighting a recent Saudi investment deal as proof of economic revival. Yet the “piggy” insult to a Bloomberg reporter earlier this week — which Ms. Leavitt called “frank and honest” — has compounded the backlash, with even Fox contributors like Kayleigh McEnany urging a softer touch.

Democrats seized the moment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s “The Last Word,” quipping: “Fox in meltdown? That’s what happens when your golden boy’s numbers implode — no more emperor’s new clothes.” A Quinnipiac poll released Friday showed Mr. Trump’s disapproval at 58 percent, with independents citing inflation and the partial shutdown as top concerns. Late-night hosts piled on: Jimmy Kimmel replayed the “Fox & Friends” clip, deadpanning, “They’re scrambling so hard, it’s like watching cats on a Roomba — chaotic, furry and going nowhere.”

For Fox, the episode tests its dual role: cheerleader and course-corrector. Since Mr. Trump’s 2024 victory, the network has softened some critiques, but recent off-year losses — including Democratic sweeps in New York and Pennsylvania — have heightened urgency. “Voters aren’t buying the spin anymore,” said Brian Stelter, the former CNN media correspondent now at The Times. “Fox hosts contradicting themselves live? That’s not loyalty — it’s desperation.”

As midterms approach, the “meltdown” may foreshadow tougher scrutiny. Mr. Trump’s team, sensing vulnerability, has leaned into grievance narratives, but with the Epstein files looming next week, the pressure mounts. For Fox, caught in the crossfire, the real chaos may be deciding whose narrative to amplify: the president’s, or the polls’.