Murdoch's Media Empire Ditches Trump, Backs DeSantis for 2024 Presidential Bid

Strategic Insights -

Rupert Murdoch's media empire has reportedly made it clear to Donald Trump that it will not support any attempt by the former president to return to the White House in 2024. This abrupt shift in allegiance comes after Trump's poor performance in the US midterm elections, where candidates backed by the former president suffered significant losses. In contrast, the media empire, which includes Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, is now actively backing Florida governor Ron DeSantis, a 44-year-old young and ambitious Republican who is seen as a more viable candidate. The New York Post's cover story today calls out Trump as a "loser" and a "flop" responsible for the Republican party's dismal performance in the midterms.

Key Takeaways:

  • News Corp, led by Rupert Murdoch, has informed Donald Trump that it will not back any attempt by him to run for president again in 2024.
  • This decision comes after Trump's poor performance in the US midterm elections, where candidates backed by the former president lost significant ground.
  • The Murdoch media empire, including Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, is instead backing Ron DeSantis, the young and ambitious Republican governor of Florida, for the 2024 presidential bid.
  • Lachlan Murdoch, the heir apparent and eldest son of Rupert Murdoch, has reportedly expressed his support for DeSantis and believes he has the potential to be a strong candidate.
  • DeSantis has not yet declared his intentions to run for president, but has been called "DeFuture" and "the new Republican party leader" by the New York Post and Fox News, respectively.
  • Joe Biden, the incumbent president, has not yet announced his intentions to run for re-election, but his age in 2024 has raised questions about his suitability for the role.
  • News Corp and Fox News have declined to comment on the reports.

Statistics:

  • The Republican party lost significant ground in the US midterm elections, with candidates backed by Donald Trump performing poorly.
  • 44 years old, Ron DeSantis is significantly younger than Donald Trump (76) and Joe Biden (82) and may have an advantage in terms of age-related energy and appeal.
  • 2024 presidential election: Both Trump and Biden are expected to announce their re-election bids in the coming months, although details have not been confirmed.

Sources:

  • i newspaper: "News Corp tells Donald Trump it will not back a second presidential run"
  • New York Post: "Here's how Donald Trump sabotaged the Republican midterms"
  • The i: "Rupert Murdoch's media empire will not back Donald Trump's presidential bid, report claims"