While Denying Fox's Role, Hannity Fuels Obama Muslim Myth

Written by Zachary Pleat

Published

Sean Hannity responded to a new book reporting that President Obama criticized Fox News for feeding the myth that he “is a Muslim” by denying the charge. Hannity stated that “not a single host” on Fox News ever said Obama was a Muslim. But he then added:

HANNITY: Listen, he went to the Trinity United Church of Christ with Jeremiah Wright for 20 years. I'm not doubting his faith. I -- look, he did write about his early years, that he did study the Quran, that one of the most beautiful moments in life was prayer at sunset. So, I mean he does have that background. But he was obviously part of the Christian church, the Trinity United Church of Christ.

According to Politico, in his new book, Mother Jones Washington bureau chief David Corn writes “that after the midterm elections, Obama told labor leaders in December 2010 that he held Fox partly responsible for him 'losing white males.' ” Politico continued:

"...Fed by Fox News, they hear Obama is a Muslim 24/7, and it begins to seep in...The Republicans have been at this for 40 years. They have new resources, but the strategy is old," Corn recounted Obama as saying.

Fox News Special Report host Bret Baier issued a similar denial on March 19, stating: “For the record, we found no examples of a host saying President Obama is a Muslim.” In fact, Fox hosts and guests relentlessly promoted falsehoods about Obama's faith, including pushing the false claim that Obama attended a “madrassa.” Some of these falsehoods even came from Baier's own show.

Hannity also claimed that “even if a guest” suggested Obama was Muslim, “they were usually challenged.” But frequent Fox guest Charles Krauthammer was not challenged when he said Obama had “a Muslim upbringing” on Special Report in June 2009. Steve Hayes was not challenged when, in August 2010, he said that “it's hard to sort of unwind” the idea that Obama is a Muslim. And Donald Trump was not challenged in March 2011 when he stated that the reason Obama didn't want to release his long-form birth certificate was because “maybe it says he's a Muslim.”

This is not the first time Hannity has advanced the claim that Obama has a Muslim background. In March 2011, Hannity made similar remarks and even asserted that Obama “went to a Muslim school.”