.jpg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C50%2C0%2C50%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
Fox & Friends gush over ‘fantastic' producer of Trump's military parade — who once work on their show
With the president's parade coming across as a 'medium-sized town's July 4th celebration' while the 'No Kings' protests drew millions of demonstrators across the country, the hosts of Trump's favorite morning show also made sure to draw a contrast between the events and frame the demonstrations as anti-American.
'So, over the weekend, a tale of two different parties,' co-host Ainsley Earhardt noted on Monday morning. 'You had all these protests, the 'No Kings' protest, all over the country. They were waving Palestinian flags. They had upside-down American flags. Organized by this pro-Palestinian group called Within Our Lifetime, many of them were. They want to abolish Zionism and chant 'liberation of Palestine.''
After airing clips of police officers clashing with demonstrators, Earhardt then turned to her colleague Lawrence Jones, pointing out that he co-anchored the network's uninterrupted coverage of Trump's celebration. Jones, meanwhile, teed up footage of the president's speech before doubling down on Earhardt's remarks.
'I had so much fun,' Jones declared. The Fox News star, however, likely didn't have as much fun as the seemingly intoxicated guest he interviewed after Trump's speech, who had to be cut off as she slurred her way through her appearance.
'It was the tale of two parties,' he continued. 'The people that like America and want to build up the country, want to celebrate our country's support for the men and women that lay their lives on the line, and the people that just want to be in the middle of the street with other country's flags.'
Jones went on to claim that the parade would cause military recruitment 'to go up' before gushing that the 'production there was so great,' adding that he 'can't wait to see the numbers.' Though the Trump administration has attempted to present an alternate reality where the anti-Trump protests were an 'utter failure with minuscule attendance' and the parade drew 'over 250,000 patriots,' early estimates assert that the demonstrations pulled in as many as six million people while the Trump event 'appeared to fall far short' of the planned 200,000 attendees.
Co-host Brian Kilmeade also appeared to take a shot at other networks for either not carrying the Trump parade or offering split-screen coverage alongside the protests, wondering 'how could you be critical' of the message delivered by the administration's event, which was ostensibly to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday.
'It was so inspirational,' Kilmeade exclaimed, adding that he 'loved' the president's speech.
After the hosts spent a few more moments fawning over the parade and Trump's address, which included them applauding the troops singing 'Happy Birthday' to the president, they once again turned their attention to their former colleague's production skills.
'Great job. Whoever produced it, and I do know somebody very well who produced it, he did a fantastic job,' Kilmeade gleefully stated as Earhardt mentioned 'Ari' and the 'great job' he carried out.
'He's a part of our family,' Jones added.
Abergel, who was affectionately described by longtime Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy as 'Ari the driver,' left the conservative cable giant earlier this year to take on the role of executive director of America250, the organization that oversaw the military celebration.
'The congressionally authorized festivities, which kick off tomorrow with a Washington parade to honor the Army, are backed by more than $100 million in expected congressional appropriations and are supposed to be a nonpolitical, nonpartisan affair,' The Atlantic reported about Abergel's appointment. 'But Abergel's new role has prompted concerns even from some Trump loyalists, as well as a backlash among participants who worry that his installation portends a bid by Trump to channel the patriotism surrounding the nation's semiquincentennial into a celebration of himself.'
The installation of Abergel and other Fox News veterans to the America250 operation is just another example of the symbiotic relationship between the right-wing cable network and the Trump White House.
While the MAGA-boosting channel employs several former Trump administration officials and the president's daughter-in-law, Trump has hired roughly two dozen ex-Fox News employees to staff up his administration – including former Fox & Friends host Pete Hegseth to run the Pentagon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Hollywood meets NBA hardwood: A look inside the rise of the Summer League Film Festival
While Bronny James and other young talent were lighting up the NBA Summer League court in Las Vegas, another game was being played just a few steps away: One with scripts, storyboards and studio buzz. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, just as the league wrapped up Sunday, a different kind of crowd formed. Hollywood execs, producers and curious power players were slipping away from the basketball action to catch a slate of 34 film projects created by NBA stars past and present. More than just film screenings, it's an emerging playground where sports and the art of storytelling collide. From baseline to backlot, the Summer League Film Festival is generating off-court buzz — with the likes of Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, actor-producer Mark Wahlberg and filmmaker Deon Taylor joining the mix. Conversations are building on turning this three-day showcase into a launchpad for athlete-filmmakers, backed by film industry veterans who understand both the creative and business sides of shaping ideas and grooming projects for the screen. 'This definitely has legs,' said retired NBA player Stacey Augmon after previewing 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' a documentary chronicling the untold story of the Runnin' Rebels in the Strip View Pavilion. A 10-minute clip was screened before a packed audience, including Sundance Film Festival director Michelle Satter and production companies like the Wahlberg co-owned Unrealistic Ideas and Alcon Entertainment, the company behind 'The Book of Eli' and 'Blade Runner 2049.' Like other entries, the 'Kings of Vegas' team showcased select footage, including interviews with high-profile names such as Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel, alongside UNLV legends Augmon, Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and others. After the screening, the producers and cast discussed the film's origins, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. The documentary remains in development, but Augmon says the film festival is already proving its worth. 'This gives us another great avenue,' said Augmon, who played on the Runnin' Rebels team that won the 1990 NCAA championship before his 15-season NBA career. His college teammate, Anderson Hunt, said sharing their authentic, real-life stories offer a major advantage like never before, unlocking new pathways to getting their projects financed and sold. 'We have control of what's coming out,' Hunt said. 'People might know about our stories through the internet. But stuff like this takes our platform to the next level. This is great for us, and Deon is like a golden child.' From hardwood to Hollywood The festival spotlighted stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were tapped to infuse the festival with seasoned filmmaking expertise, helping bridge the worlds of sports and entertainment. He played a key role in encouraging Hollywood insiders to show up, especially during the NBA Summer League's final stretch to keep the closing days as enticing as opening week. Taylor credited NBA Summer League co-founder Albert Hall for having the foresight to spark the collaboration. 'This is all invaluable,' said Hall, who cofounded the league with Warren LeGarie in 2004. 'The players make money, no doubt about it. They invest in these projects. But they don't really know what the system can provide or how to approach it. Kind of like a young executive getting into the sport or a young player trying to be seen and get exposure. It's the same way. They have to be coached up.' Hall said the partnership with Hidden Empire was a natural next step following their successful collaboration with the NFL and Skydance Sports, where they led film training sessions in March for more than 20 current and former NFL players. He added that having Wahlberg and Archie Gips of Unrealistic Ideas on board brings more industry muscle to strengthen the initiative and help drive it forward. Taylor said the festival is a door opener for the athletes. 'It's a gateway for athletes to share their art, do their art and be creative without anyone questioning them,' said Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' A former basketball player in East Germany turned independent filmmaker, he said true artistry requires neither a film school nor a Hollywood pedigree. 'The greatest artists are the ones that draw, create, build, shoot in the face of negativity and who paint pictures of what they see in the times that they live in,' Taylor said. 'You can only do that if you live in this culture. You can do that if you've lived and experienced it. You can't do that from a high-rise building with no pain. These guys come from adversity in life and sports.' Is the film fest worth the buzz? EverWonder Studio president Michael Antinoro certainly thinks so, and then some. He sees the film festival as more than a one-off spectacle in Las Vegas. In Antinoro's eyes, it could become the Oscars of athlete-driven storytelling with satellite versions popping up in the NBA arenas throughout the season. He sees value in helping standout projects secure the final funding and reach the right distributors. 'If we can add any value, we're in the rooms talking to all the networks and streamers that distributes films,' said Antinoro, a founding partner of the studio, which specializes in nonfiction content, documentaries and live events. The company served as co-executive producer on 'Defiant: The Manny Pacquiao Obsession' in 2019 and produced projects featuring Mike Tyson and Brett Favre. 'We're talking to them a lot. It's all about exposure,' he said. 'Some of these films maybe need a little more money just to get them over the line. If it makes sense, we can play a little there too.' How can Sundance play a role? For Michelle Satter, it's all about fostering a supportive creative community. She sees promising potential in what's taking shape at the Summer League Film Festival. While it's still early, Satter can envision a future where projects from the festival eventually find their way into Sundance. 'Why not? Of course,' said Satter, a founding figure at Sundance since 1981. She now serves as the founding senior director of Sundance Institute's artist programs. She's exploring how it might support the festival after being invited by Taylor. Sundance already has an existing partnership with Taylor's Hidden Empire. She called the opportunity to collaborate on this new venture both exciting and aligned with Sundance's mission to uplift emerging voices in storytelling. Satter's late son, Michael Latt, had his documentary short 'Hoops, Hopes & Dreams' premiere at Sundance early this year. She said Sundance gets about 15,000 short film submissions each year, but there's room for compelling storytelling that opens up new perspective from an athlete's lens. 'That was the power of storytelling, the unity of sports and bringing people together in community,' she said. 'I love the idea. These are the stories people need to see. They need to be out there in the world.'
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Wall Street Journal booted from White House press trip to Scotland after Epstein report
Reporters for The Wall Street Journal have been removed from a pool of journalists covering Donald Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland in the wake of the newspaper's reporting on the president's alleged 50th birthday card to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The reporters' removal, first reported by Politico, also follows the president's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and the journalists who wrote the story, as well as right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch and parent companies News Corp and Dow Jones. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement shared with The Independent that neither the newspaper nor 'any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces.' 'Due to the Wall Street Journal 's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board,' she said. 'Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible.' The Independent has requested comment from the WSJ and White House Correspondents Association. Trump's lawsuit filed in federal court in Miami on July 18 claims the newspaper, its parent companies, executives and journalists falsely smeared the president by accusing him of writing a sexually suggestive birthday card to Epstein in 2003. The birthday greeting is described by the newspaper as including a sexually suggestive drawing and a birthday wish that says 'may every day be another wonderful secret.' A letter reportedly bearing Trump's name, which the WSJ report claims was reviewed by the newspaper, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by a drawing of a naked woman. His signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair, according to the report. The defendants 'failed to attach the letter, failed to attach the alleged drawing, failed to show proof that President Trump authored or signed any such letter, and failed to explain how this purported letter was obtained,' according to Trump's lawsuit. 'The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,' the complaint claims. This is a developing story
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lawsuit challenges restrictions on Head Start for kids in the US illegally
A coalition of 21 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration's restrictions on social services for immigrants in the country illegally, including the federal preschool program Head Start, health clinics and adult education. Individual public benefits, such as food stamps and college financial aid, have been largely unavailable to people in the country without legal status, but the new rules and guidance from the administration curbed their access to community-level programs that receive federal money. The lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James argues the government failed to follow the rulemaking process and did not provide required notice on conditions placed on federal funds. It also argues the changes will create significant harm. 'These programs work because they are open, accessible, and grounded in compassion,' James said in a statement. 'This is a baseless attack on some of our country's most effective and inclusive public programs, and we will not let it stand.' The rule changes rescinded a Clinton-era interpretation of federal laws on immigrants ' access to services. The restrictions were announced jointly earlier this month by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Education Department, the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice. Implementing immigration documentation checks would place a significant burden on programs and in some cases would be unrealistic, the lawsuit said. The extra work would likely affect services provided by these programs to U.S. citizens, who are often from low-income backgrounds and depend on the services for health and education, the lawsuit said. Head Start, a federal preschool program that provides developmental therapy, child care and preschool to families who are homeless or in poverty, has not asked participants to verify their immigration status in the past. Some Head Start providers said they do not have the staff or resources to begin implementing such screening. 'It is likely that for some programs, the costs of compliance will be so high as to lead to the programs' closure,' the lawsuit said. 'Many Head Start programs are small entities that operate on razor-thin margins and are likely to close if facing a significant administrative burden.' Other community-level programs affected by the rule change include mental health services in schools, crisis hotlines and substance use disorder treatment. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
