Fox News apologizes for showing old video of a hatless Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony
Fox News apologized for airing old video of a hatless President Donald Trump during coverage of his attendance at Congress on Sunday. honorable transfer At the ceremony held for US soldiers killed in the Middle East war, it was insisted that this was an honest mistake.
At a polarizing moment, some online critics have argued without evidence that this was not a mistake but that the network was simply trying to make Trump look better by not showing him wearing a baseball cap during what is considered one of the most solemn duties of a commander in chief. The bodies of the six soldiers were returned to Dover Air Force Base on Saturday.
But Fox News said archival footage of Trump at an earlier ceremony was mistakenly shot by a staff member and used in two television broadcasts on Sunday morning. A spokesman said the correct footage was used at other times, including on Saturday.
“We regret the error and apologize for the inaccurate footage,” Fox said in a statement.
Fox News anchor Griff Jenkins issued a correction live on Sunday, saying “we offer our respect and condolences” to the families of the slain soldiers.
The apology did not sit well with some critics. “If any other network had done this it would have been a huge scandal, Fox would have led the chorus of criticism and fake outrage and people would have lost their jobs,” he said Mehdi HasanFounder of the online site Zeteo.
Johnny “Joey” Jones, a veteran host of Fox News Channel’s “Big Weekend Show,” said on social media that he was “embarrassed and embarrassed” by the incident.
“I believe this was an honest mistake, but that doesn’t make it an acceptable mistake,” Jones wrote. “There are few things more sacred than our heroes who give their lives in the line of duty.”
“If the way you respond to this is sarcastic comments and insults, please direct them to me. I’m the one speaking harshly on these issues. If you’re using this to attack my hard-working colleagues in a partisan manner, look at your watch,” Jones said.
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David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. follow him http://x.com/dbauder And https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
