Rupert Murdoch on Donald Trump

Rupert Murdoch's relationship with Donald Trump has involved a significant evolution, moving from enabling support to a posture of conflict. For years, Murdoch's media properties, particularly Fox News, acted as a substantial cheerleader for the former president, a dynamic that helped solidify his political power base. This alignment was seemingly rooted in a desire to pick the winning side and a shared ideological proximity, despite Murdoch reportedly expressing private disdain for the man himself, even suggesting in 2021 that the goal should be to make him a "nonperson." However, the relationship frayed significantly when Trump's actions directly impacted the editorial independence of Murdoch's more traditional news outlets, notably the Wall Street Journal.

The current friction stems largely from the former president launching a substantial lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal following its publication of stories concerning alleged personal misconduct, including a hand-drawn picture sent to a sex offender. Murdoch, at 94, is reportedly refusing to be intimidated, leading to a public battle that media observers suggest is driven by a need to protect press freedom and the commercial interests of his respected financial paper. This public standoff positions the media titan, whose outlets once propagated falsehoods, as an unlikely, if complicated, defender against an executive who approaches absolutism, revealing the ultimate priority is often the defense of his commercial empire and editorial staff.