Fox News drew criticism for referring to Democratic President Joe Biden as a "wannabe dictator."
The claim appeared in a chyron—the text that appears at the bottom of the screen—during the show Fox News Tonight hosted by Brian Kilmeade. The show aired images of both Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump side by side.
The segment came after Trump was arraigned following the decision by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to formally charge him for committing federal crimes. The agency investigated his mishandling and hiding classified documents he possessed after leaving office and impeding the government's attempts to retrieve them.
The full chyron read:
“WANNABE DICTATOR SPEAKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AFTER HAVING HIS POLITICAL RIVAL ARRESTED”
You can see it below.
\u201ci promise i didn't edit this picture at all\u201d— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1686704643
The chyron prominently labeled Biden as a "wannabe dictator," creating a provocative visual representation that immediately drew attention. The juxtaposition of the images suggested a false narrative that Biden had orchestrated the arrest of his political rival.
For instance, just last week House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made the false claim Biden ordered Trump's arrest himself only to be called out by a Democratic colleague who charged he was "intentionally misleading the public" in the wake of the indictment.
Fox News faced backlash for the controversial chyron and Kilmeade's comments, which were perceived as perpetuating false narratives. Critics argued labeling Biden a "wannabe dictator" was unfounded and inflammatory.
The network was accused of employing sensationalist tactics to influence public opinion while ignoring criminal activity.
More than a few people reminded Fox which President fomented an insurrection.
\u201cThe wannabe dictator was the one that planned a violent insurrection to take over the government after he lost an election. But FOX was too busy trying to blame Antifa to call it what it or him what it was.\u201d— Fata Morgana (@Fata Morgana) 1686759102
\u201cEvery American who believes in truth and in democracy needs to step up and join efforts to denounce and protest Rupert Murdoch\u2019s Fox \u201cNews\u201d as a cancer that endangers truth and our democracy https://t.co/kDOApMKhCt\u201d— Steven Greenhouse (@Steven Greenhouse) 1686756965
\u201cTrump is arrested on federal charges, and Fox News decides to run a chyron calling Biden a \u201cwannabe dictator\u201d. \n\nBan Fox News from military bases.\u201d— KD \ud83d\udcda\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udfe7 (@KD \ud83d\udcda\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udfe7) 1686742051
\u201c@abughazalehkat We are in danger as a nation. This is what causes division, hate, and violence\u201d— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1686704643
\u201cWhen Trump supporters (or Fox News) claim that Biden is a \u201cwannabe dictator\u201d, this is code for \u201cno one tells me what to do, I\u2019m not going to pay taxes, I\u2019ll be as bigoted as I wish, and if I\u2019m not participating in an insurrection, I\u2019ll root for those who are and probably donate.\u201d\u201d— Dana Briggs (@Dana Briggs) 1686756230
\u201c@abughazalehkat It\u2019s honestly hilarious to me just how openly partisan Fox is. Like they don\u2019t even try to convey the slightest hint of journalistic neutrality\u201d— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1686704643
\u201cWait! I had at least a piece of the copyright on \u201cwannabe dictator\u201d to describe the FORMER (and evermore-shall-be-FORMER) President. Donald Trump led an insurrection to keep his position. @FoxNews was Trump\u2019s PR department for all of it. Still is.\u201d— Michael Whitlow (@Michael Whitlow) 1686746062
\u201c"Fox News banner refers to Joe Biden as 'wannabe dictator' who had his 'rival arrested'"\nWhy FOX is allowed within 50 feet of the Whitehouse Press Briefing room behooves me. They are a Republican propaganda machine and have no business being there.\n(It's not a free speech issue)\u201d— David W Pippy (@David W Pippy) 1686738669
\u201cUnhinged MAGA cultists are screaming "Defund PBS!" after a responsible, 100% warranted chyron, yet they have no problem with the Fox "News" chyron lying and calling Biden a "wannabe dictator". \n\nThe cognitive dissonance is maddening...\u201d— Bryan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8for\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Bryan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8for\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1686745893
\u201cI feel like the wannabe dictator is the one who incited an insurrection but what do I know? I\u2019m just a silly drag queen.\u201d— Tammy Faymous (@Tammy Faymous) 1686763173
\u201cIf anyone had ANY doubt that fox news is simply a Russian propaganda tool, this should lay that to rest.\nThis is real\nContact your cable companies and let them know you will not continue to support a company which carries stations that call our President a 'wannabe dictator'.\njfc\u201d— Roger ZenAF (@Roger ZenAF) 1686755373
\u201cFox entertainment out here calling Biden a "wannabe dictator" like he was the one they helped with a plot to try and overturn an election so he could remain in power.\u201d— Covie (@Covie) 1686707029
\u201cThe wannabe dictator was tRUMP who incited the Jan 6 insurrection because he refused to be thrown out of the WH falsely claiming that the election was stolen!\u201d— Luz Rivera \ud83d\udfe7 (@Luz Rivera \ud83d\udfe7) 1686768387
\u201cRemember that time that President Biden called for armed lunatics to invade the capital and kill people and overturn a election with an insurrection, machine guns and bombs? No I don't either! That was the actual wannabe dictator Trump. #GOPTraitorsToDemocracy\u201d— Stephanie \ud83d\udc99s democracy \ud83c\udf0a\u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udfb6\ud83c\udfdc\ufe0f\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f (@Stephanie \ud83d\udc99s democracy \ud83c\udf0a\u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udfb6\ud83c\udfdc\ufe0f\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f) 1686749487
Trump's indictment, issued in Miami's Federal District Court, marks the first instance of a former President facing federal charges.
This places the nation in an unprecedented situation, given that Trump also currently leads the pack as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
This indictment, which was presented by the office of special counsel Jack Smith, comes just over two months after local prosecutors in New York filed over 30 felony charges against Trump. These charges were related to a case involving a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
Furthermore, Trump remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by Smith's office, focusing on his extensive endeavors to cling to power following his electoral defeat in 2020. Additionally, authorities from the district attorney's office in Fulton County, Georgia, are scrutinizing him for potential interference in the election.
