Donald Trump's approval ratings have been a topic of intense scrutiny during his presidency, with polls indicating mixed results. However, a closer look at his approval ratings and their relationship with Fox News reveals a telling pattern. According to a study published in the Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties, Trump's approval ratings show a correlation with Fox News's coverage of his presidency. The study found that when Fox News devotes more coverage to Trump's approval ratings, his ratings tend to decline, suggesting that the network's influence may be shaping public opinion.
The Research Methodology
To examine the relationship between Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings and his actual approval ratings, researchers analyzed data from the Gallup Poll Daily tracking and the Media Tenor database. The Media Tenor database tracked the tone and content of broadcast news coverage of Trump on Fox News, CNN, and other major networks from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018. The researchers coded the content of these broadcasts to determine whether the tone was positive, negative, or neutral and whether it focused on Trump's approval ratings.
Correlation Between Fox News and Trump's Approval Ratings
The study found a significant correlation between Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings and his actual approval ratings. When Fox News gave more coverage to Trump's approval ratings, his ratings tended to decline. However, when Fox News covered other topics, such as his policy initiatives or national security issues, his ratings remained relatively stable or even increased. For example, in June 2017, Fox News dedicated extensive coverage to Trump's approval ratings, and his ratings dropped to 36.3 percent. In contrast, when Fox News focused on other topics in June 2018, such as the June 2018 North Korea summit, Trump's ratings climbed to 44.1 percent.
Theories and Speculations
Several theories attempt to explain the correlation between Fox News's coverage and Trump's approval ratings. One possible explanation is that Fox News's biased coverage of Trump's approval ratings influences public opinion. According to the study, Fox News's positive and negative coverage of Trump's ratings are somewhat correlated with the ratings themselves, suggesting that the network's coverage may be shaping public opinion.
Potential Influences of Fox News on Public Opinion
Fox News's influence on public opinion about Trump may be attributed to its prominent role in the conservative media landscape. According to Nielsen ratings, Fox News is the leading source of news for conservatives and regularly garners higher ratings than its rivals. As the primary source of news for a significant portion of the conservative population, Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings may shape public opinion within this group. Furthermore, the study suggests that Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings is not independent of Trump's actions and decisions; rather, it appears to be highly affected by them. Whenever Trump's actions have led to a decline in his approval ratings, Fox News has shown a decrease in coverage of his approval ratings, further perpetuating the dangerous cycle.
Impact on Public Perception
The study's findings also shed light on how Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings can affect public perception of his presidency. When Fox News declines to cover Trump's approval ratings, his ratings tend to remain stable. However, when Fox News dedicates significant coverage to his approval ratings, his ratings tend to drop. In contrast, when Fox News focuses on other topics, such as his policy initiatives or national security issues, his ratings tend to remain relatively stable or even increase. This suggests that Fox News's coverage of Trump's approval ratings plays a significant role in shaping public perception of his presidency.
