Fox News Confirms Meeting With White House; Truce Reached?

by Steve Krakauer | 4:06 pm, October 28th, 2009

Mediaite has confirmed a meeting between Fox News and the White House took place today, and an FNC spokesperson emphasized it was private.

Details of the meeting and terms of any agreement are still emerging, but we hear the meeting was to come to a “truce” between both sides – a point first reported by FishbowlDC.

Mediaite hears the meeting was between FNC Senior Vice President Michael Clemente and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in Gibbs’ office at the White House. Clemente then met with the FNC D.C. bureau.

Earlier today U.S. News & World Report wrote, “‘They’re still at it,’ says a senior Obama aide, who adds that White House officials don’t expect to fire another shot in the battle unless Fox strikes first.”

We’ve reached out to the White House for comment as well.

The entire White House vs. Fox News feud has been getting heavy coverage (here and elsewhere) as it has evolved all month. So now what? Will Glenn Beck stop saying Van Jones? Will Sean Hannity stop talking about Kevin Jennings? We’ll see.

If this supposed “truce” is anything like that last big FNC supposed “truce” – the NBC feud – it probably won’t last long before both sides are firing back again.

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15 comments

m says:

October 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Isn’t it interesting how Fox News essentially operates like a political entity? Striking truces and declaring combat all the time. It’s like Roger Ailes is running a miniature nation or something.

straitshooter says:

October 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Yes, Roger Ailes is running a miniature nation, and it just prevailed. That white flag on the mediaite home page isn’t flying over Newscorp, it’s over the White House.

Here’s how the truce will work out. The White House is going to use this opportunity to pretend it’s run by grown-ups, and they will patch up their wounds and never mention Fox News again. Fox is going to tell its people, especially Beck and Hannity, to do anything they damn well feel like on the air, and their ratings will continue to climb.

And both Bill O’Reilly and Chris Wallace will get Obama interviews right around the time he makes his Afghanistan decision (right after the November elections). O’Reilly’s interview will spike near the 7 million mark.

Chris Jones says:

October 28, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Unless “Fox strikes first” meaning (reports what this administration is up to so the American people can hold them accountable). Don’t count on the “truce” to last long. In fact, Beck starts in 10 minutes so I give it 10 minutes.

TfT says:

October 28, 2009 at 4:59 pm

The WH lost the war it started, it is now cutting and running — smartest thing they have done yet,

Keeva says:

October 28, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Notice how the media (in this case Fox news) are the only people the media allows to keep secrets?

A double shot of hypocrisy for everyone!

sarainitaly says:

October 28, 2009 at 7:26 pm

In fact, Beck starts in 10 minutes so I give it 10 minutes.

LOL!

rmbltmbl says:

October 28, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Delicious!

ImNotBlue says:

October 28, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Keeva says:
October 28, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Notice how the media (in this case Fox news) are the only people the media allows to keep secrets?
A double shot of hypocrisy for everyone!

I dunno, Keeva. I think there can be different standards for those in the media, and those in elected government positions. Media has no responsibility to not keep secrets, they’re a private business. The government is responsible and represents the people… they have a duty to report back to us. There’s a difference, at least IMO.

ImNotBlue says:

October 28, 2009 at 11:45 pm

Oh, and here’s another interesting take on the story:
http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/over-hyped-truce/

neil says:

October 29, 2009 at 4:59 am

One drawback, which even Obama aides concede, is that Fox is using the quarrel with the White House as a public-relations tool to stir up its own support among conservatives and to boost ratings. “They’re still at it,” says a senior Obama aide, who adds that White House officials don’t expect to fire another shot in the battle unless Fox strikes first.
usb speicher

martinac says:

October 29, 2009 at 7:29 am

Hi,
I was wondering what kind of agreement they have made that will keep them silent at least for a while. Thanks for sharing this information and I am waiting for you to update this blog.

nahrungsergänzung

Jim R says:

October 29, 2009 at 7:46 am

Hopefully more Americans will become aware that due caution is warranted when they hear anything on Fox, then all of this would have been well worth it.

Besides putting the GOP on notice that from here on out Democrats will be hitting back, finally.

StewartIII says:

October 29, 2009 at 9:39 am

ChickaBOOMer — FOX News: The Mountain Goes To Moses
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/10/fox-news-mountain-goes-to-moses.html

Dandee says:

October 29, 2009 at 5:32 pm

To me the only thing that Bambam doesn’t like is that there is ONE news outlet that tells us the things we NEED to know, NOT what he wants us to know. I do believe most citizens KNOW just how secretive this administration has been, AFTER PROMISING us it would NOT be that way. One other thing, is that ALL outlets except Fox bowed to him and pushed and pushed him until he got this job given to him, with their help and now just ONE station is not in his corner. Just one of his lies, as the one that there would be no lobbyist in the WH, that this health care plan wouldn’t cost us our OWN doctors and Medicine and now he is still trying to get all the illegal immigrants to be covered by the TAX money that we are paying. They have no right, they are not legal. So if they want to take advantage of the Gov. insurance, let them become LEGAL, go to work, pay taxes and pay Social Security like all the rest of us have.

Sunnyr says:

October 30, 2009 at 4:08 am

The White House clearly bit off more than they could chew and are now waving the white flag of surrender. These IDIOTS forgot they they were no longer in Chicago and tried the same old knee-busting tactics but they backfired, big time. You don’t start a Jihad with a powerful TV Network who has MILLIONS of faithful viewers without getting your scrawny butt kicked. Serves them right. WTG, FOX NEWS CHANNEL! You are the BEST!

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