President Donald Trump criticized Fox News on Sunday, October 4, 2026, for not providing live coverage of his recent campaign rallies. In a statement on social media, Trump described the rallies as representative of the Republican Party and expressed disappointment that the network's Sunday morning programming did not broadcast the events. The remarks come as Trump campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The president has a history of public disagreements with the network despite it remaining the most-watched news outlet in the U.S. Previous conflicts include his criticism of former moderator Megyn Kelly and more recent complaints regarding host Shannon Bream's use of images. In other media actions, Trump has restricted access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico at the White House.
New polling released Saturday, October 3, by The New York Times and Siena College indicates competitive races in states that previously supported Trump. In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown leads Republican Jon Husted by three points, while Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy by four points in the gubernatorial race. In Texas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico holds a slight lead over Trump-endorsed Attorney General Ken Paxton, who faced impeachment and acquittal in the state legislature.
The outcome of these midterm elections will determine the balance of power in Congress. In Texas, a victory for James Talarico would mark the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat in that state since 1988. Polling showing Gov. Greg Abbott in a competitive race against Gina Hinojosa suggests that even long-held Republican seats are currently in play.
In Ohio, the leads for Democratic candidates suggest a change in a state that had recently trended toward Republican support. Voters are reporting concerns over economic factors, including the impact of tariffs and the war in Iran, which have contributed to rising prices. The president has attributed these polling trends to branding issues rather than policy dissatisfaction.
The elections scheduled for November 3, 2026, will serve as a precedent for the 2028 presidential cycle, as media outlets begin to focus toward future candidates. Republican leadership is reportedly in a "triage mode" to mitigate potential losses in both chambers of Congress. The final results will be determined by voters at the polls in less than one month.