Texts Reveal Hannity Privately Asked Trump’s Chief of Staff How He Could Help on Election Day: ‘Any Place in Particular We Need a Push’

The longest-running prime time host in the history of cable news, Sean Hannity, texted then-chief of staff Mark Meadows on election day in 2020 to see how he could help President Donald Trump get reelected.

The exchange between Hannity and Meadows was published in a text message dump by CNN on Monday.

“The never-before-seen texts include messages from Trump’s family – daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. – as well as White House and campaign officials, Cabinet members, Republican Party leaders, January 6 rally organizers, Rudy Giuliani, ‘My Pillow Guy’ Mike Lindell, Sean Hannity and other Fox hosts,” CNN said of 2,319 text messages obtained by the network.

The cosy relationship between Hannity and Trump was well documented during his administration. “He basically has a desk in the place,” a Trump White House adviser told The Washington Post in April 2018.

But the texts between Hannity and Meadows demonstrate the extent to which the Fox News host worked behind the scenes to directly support his preferred political candidate.

“NC gonna be ok?” Hannity texted Meadows on November 3rd, 2020.

“Stress every vote matters. Get out and vote,” Meadows replied, adding later, “On radio.”

“Yes sir,” Hannity replied.

“On it. Any place in particular we need a push,” asked Hannity in the same exchange. “Pennsylvania. NC AZ,” replied Meadows, who also added, “Nevada.”

“Got it. Everywhere,” replied Hannity.

“Some aides think of Hannity as Trump’s ‘shadow’ chief of staff — perhaps more influential than White House chief of staff John Kelly,” read reports at the time.

The host, who celebrated his 25th anniversary on the top-rated network last week, has regularly noted he is not a journalist, but an opinion host.

Hannity told Forbes’ Andy Meek last week:

I’m very clear with my audience that as a member of the press, I also give opinion. I don’t hide my conservatism. I’m a registered conservative. I tell people who I’m voting for, what politicians I like and why I like them. So that’s sort of like the editorial in the Op-Ed pages of a newspaper. And then we do culture and sports. So what I say is, as a member of the press, I’m like a whole newspaper.

It’s a line Hannity has used for years, going back at least as far as 2019, when discussing his close connection to the base of MAGA world.

Read the full exchange as published by CNN below:

Election Day: November 3, 2020

Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows

Hey

Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows

NC gonna be ok?

Mark Meadows to Sean Hannity

Stress every vote matters. Get out and vote

Mark Meadows to Sean Hannity

On radio

Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows

Yes sir

Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows

On it. Any place in particular we need a push

Mark Meadows to Sean Hannity

Pennsylvania. NC AZ

Mark Meadows to Sean Hannity

Nevada

Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows

Got it. Everywhere