Sean Hannity’s Secret Call To Donald Trump Reveals How He Begged The President, Saying, “Don’t Do It”
A new book by Axios journalist Alex Isenstadt, titled *Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power*, promises to reveal behind-the-scenes details about Donald Trump’s presidency and the events surrounding it. One of the key incidents highlighted in the book involves a secret phone call between Trump and Fox News host Sean Hannity, shedding light on the strained relationship between Trump and Fox News during a critical period.
The backdrop to this story is the high-profile lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News. Dominion sued Fox for its coverage of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. Fox had aired claims that Dominion’s voting equipment was rigged, leading to widespread controversy. In April 2023, Fox agreed to pay Dominion nearly $800 million to settle the lawsuit and avoid a trial. This settlement was a significant moment, as it came after Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch admitted that several of the network’s hosts had promoted Trump’s false claims about the election being stolen.
Despite Murdoch’s admission, Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing him. In February 2023, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to blast Murdoch, accusing him of betraying his viewers and undermining the MAGA movement. Trump wrote, “Why is Rupert Murdoch throwing his anchors under the table, which also happens to be killing his case and infuriating his viewers, who will again be leaving in droves—they already are.” He went on to say that if Murdoch believed the 2020 election wasn’t rigged, he should “get out of the News Business as soon as possible,” calling him a “MAGA Hating Globalist RINO” who was spreading “FAKE NEWS.”
This is where Sean Hannity reportedly stepped in. According to an excerpt from Isenstadt’s book obtained by *The Washington Post*, Hannity called Trump in an attempt to calm tensions between the former president and the Murdoch family, who own Fox News. During the call, Hannity pleaded with Trump, saying, “Please do not hit Fox, do not hit the Murdoch family. Just please, for the love of God, please don’t do it.” He added, “Mr. President, I’m trying to help you out here with the Fox people here. But you’re not making it easy for me by going after the Murdochs. You’re not helping me. You’re not helping yourself. If you can just lay off, we can start making some moves and getting back to normal.”
At the time of the call, Trump was with his team, including his campaign manager, Susie Wiles. While Trump acknowledged Hannity’s efforts, he remained skeptical about Murdoch’s intentions. Hannity, realizing Trump’s hostility toward the Murdochs, tried to appeal to Wiles, asking her to intervene. “Susie, are you in the room? Susie, can you talk to the president? For the love of God, can you talk to the president?” Hannity said. However, Wiles didn’t give Hannity much hope, responding that Trump would do as he pleased.
Despite the tension, the call reportedly ended on a positive note. Interestingly, while the book details Hannity’s conversation with Wiles, a Fox News executive later claimed not to remember this specific exchange.
This revelation offers a glimpse into the complex dynamics between Trump, Fox News, and key figures like Hannity and Murdoch during a tumultuous period. It also highlights the challenges of managing relationships in the high-stakes world of politics and media. As the book’s release approaches, more details are expected to emerge, potentially sparking further reactions from those involved. For now, this story underscores the ongoing drama and power struggles that continue to shape Trump’s post-presidency and his influence over the media landscape.
