Special Interests Are Buying Fox News Air Time to Lobby Trump Directly With Seniors in MAGA Hats
In July of this year, Fox and Friends demonstrated pretty directly their own awareness of the influence the channel, particularly in the mornings, has on how President Donald Trump sees things. On many other occasions, either by stating it directly or by indirectly referencing or repeating a point made on a Fox News Channel show, the president has proved this perception true. He pays attention to the shows, and it informs his thinking.
But it’s not just the hosts themselves or the media that have noticed. Lobbyists have too, and they mean to use that influence.
Take, for example, 340B Matters, a group that describes itself as being “concerned about the future viability of the 340B program.” 340B is a drug pricing program that may face changes under proposed legislation. The lobbying group opposes that, and they are going straight for Trump, and the MAGA audience, by running ads where he’ll see them.
The composition of the ad is a dead giveaway, too. Literally wearing MAGA hats and speaking directly to Trump. They look and sound like not only his base, but the people who Fox News features when they visit diners and churches for man-on-the-street interviews with Trump voters who love him. And it starts with those regular folks nodding along as they listen to the President speak.
Blatant? Of course. But a very smart ad buy. And sure, also a vivid commentary on the new order of things.
The ad is running in the D.C. market this week, and a source tells Mediaite that Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar was not happy when he saw it.
We don’t know the size of the ad buy, but it’s running during Fox News Channel’s daytime block. It’s not primetime, but it’s prime Presidential time. And he’s the main audience.
[Featured image via screengrab]
—
