Fox Figures Campaign To Replace Geithner With Trump

Huckabee: “Ask Donald Trump To Be Treasury Secretary.” On the August 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends Saturday, guest co-host Juliet Huddy asked Fox News host Mike Huckabee who he would “be interested in seeing” replace Geithner. Huckabee responded:

HUCKABEE: President Obama would never pick anybody who I would like to see there. I mean, I would like to see a true conservative. Get Steve Forbes, get someone who has a real -- ask Donald Trump to be Treasury Secretary. Go for someone who is completely unorthodox --

HUDDY: There's a headline today --

HUCKABEE: -- and unconventional.

HUDDY: -- Mike Huckabee asking for Donald Trump to be Treasury Secretary.

HUCKABEE: Have Donald Trump take the job for 90 days. [Fox News, Fox & Friends Saturday, 8/6/11, via Media Matters]

Huckabee: “Bringing Donald Trump In Is A Real Optical Game-Changer.” On the August 8 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy asked Huckabee, “You have got what some have called a game-changer” to replace Geithner. Huckabee responded:

HUCKABEE: Well, I suggested the other day, Donald Trump. The point is that we need someone who has a completely different outlook than Timothy Geithner, a man who didn't figure out Turbo Tax enough to pay his taxes. I said Geithner should have never been confirmed. Now that we have an absolute train wreck in the economy, and O'Leary's cow becoming the new symbol of the dairy industry. Come on. Geithner failed the economy and he failed this president. The president needs to have him walk the plank. If not for policy reasons, he needs to do it for the political optics and bringing Donald Trump in is a real optical game changer. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/8/11, via Media Matters]

Fox & Friends Asks Trump To Comment On Huckabee's Recommendation. On the August 8 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Doocy told Trump that “just about 15 minutes ago,” Huckabee “said that you should take the place of Tim Geithner.” After co-host Gretchen Carlson asked Trump if he would “do it,” Trump claimed if he did “it would be very painful ... for many of the countries that are just ripping us off.” Later, Doocy claimed that “Mike Huckabee thinks you're a great negotiator. And that's what it comes down to. We need to negotiate our way out of this.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/8/11]

Fox's Gasparino Touts Trump As Treasury Secretary: “I Think Donald Trump Knows How To Make Money, And He's A No Nonsense Guy.” On the August 9 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Doocy told Fox News contributor Charles Gasparino that “Mike Huckabee said” Trump would be a good replacement for Geither as Treasury Secretary. Gasparino responded: “I think Donald Trump knows how to make money and I, you know, I think you know, he's a no-nonsense guy. I think anything at this point is a trade-up from Tim Geithner when you have a businessman involved.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/9/11, via Media Matters]

Trump's Companies Have Reportedly Filed For Bankruptcy Four Times

ABC News: “Donald Trump's Companies Filed For Bankruptcy 4 Times.” In an April 21 article, ABC News noted that “Donald Trump -- or companies that bear his name -- have declared bankruptcy four times.” From ABC News:

Donald Trump -- or companies that bear his name - have declared bankruptcy four times.

[...]

Doug Heller, the executive director of Consumer Watchdog, said Trump is the “most egregious, almost comical example” of the disparity between what the average American faces when going through bankruptcy and the “ease with which the very rich can move in and out of bankruptcy.”

[...]

“Here's a guy who's failed so miserably so many times and it's not as though he had to claw his way back after seven years in credit hell. He just said. 'OK, this isn't my problem anymore.' For him, it's just been a platform to the next money-making scheme,” said Dough [sic] Heller, the executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

In 2004 Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts Inc. filed for voluntary bankruptcy after accumulating $1.8 billion in debt. The Donald agreed to reduce his share in the company from 47 percent to 25 percent, meaning he no longer had control over the company. The deal also included lower interest rates and a $500 million loan to make improvements. [ABC News, 4/21/11]

Fox Relentlessly Hyped A Potential Trump Presidential Campaign

Fox Graphic Asks, “What Would President Trump Do?” On the March 28 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, the co-hosts held a phone interview with Trump during which he discussed Obama's decisions regarding Libya. During the segment, on-screen text read: “What Would President Trump Do?” From the broadcast:

[Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/28/11 via Media Matters]

Morris: Obama Releasing Birth Certificate “Legitimize[d] [Trump's] Candidacy.” During the April 27 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Dick Morris claimed that Trump was the “winner” of the birth certificate issue and that Obama releasing his long-form birth certificate “legitimize[d]” Trump's candidacy. From The O'Reilly Factor:

BILL O'REILLY (host): Do you think this birth certificate stuff hurt him in the long run with independent voters?

MORRIS: No, I think it helped him because of -- especially now that Obama answered. It legitimizes his candidacy.

O'REILLY: It empowers Trump.

MORRIS: Right.

O'REILLY: It empowers Trump. So Trump looks like the winner would you say in this?

MORRIS: Oh, yeah, sure. Because Obama had to answer. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 4/27/11]

Cavuto: “We Could Do Worse” Than Trump As President. On the April 12 edition of Fox News' Your World, host Neil Cavuto claimed:

CAVUTO: I say let voters - let voters decide. Yes, the world would bristle at a Donald Trump, especially those used to an America that kowtows to them. Not this guy, who'd sooner erect a finger than a building in their honor. Yes, he would be a different cup of tea. But have you looked at these other cups? Not exactly making my cup runneth over. So we could do worse my friends. Take a look around. We already have. [Fox News, Your World, 4/12/11, via Media Matters]

Fox Nation: “Team Obama Worried About Trump.” On April 10, Fox Nation linked to an ABC News article noting Obama adviser David Plouffe's comments under the headline, “Team Obama Worried About Trump.” From Fox Nation:

[Fox Nation, 4/10/11]

Kilmeade Asked If White House Is “Afraid” Of Trump. On the April 11 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade teased an upcoming segment with Trump by asking: “The White House fires back at Donald Trump, calling his possible presidential run a 'sideshow in disguise.' Are they really afraid of him?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/11/11, via Media Matters]

Bolling: “Is The White House Getting Worried?” Later on Fox & Friends, guest co-host Eric Bolling asked: “Is the White House getting worried? A spokesperson for the president trashing Donald Trump.” Bolling then aired a clip of Plouffe's comments on This Week. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/11/11, via Media Matters]

Fox Also Promoted Trump's Birtherism

Hannity Asked, “Why Can't They Just Release The Birth Certificate?” On the March 25 edition of his Fox News show, Sean Hannity stated, “Donald Trump brought up the issue of the birth certificate, and it's getting huge buzz around the country,” and later asked, “Why can't they just release the birth certificate, you know, and just move on?” [Fox News, Hannity, 3/25/11, via Media Matters]

Hannity Wondered Why Trump's Birtherism Is “So Toxic,” Asks Panel For Their Birth Certificates. On the April 18 edition of Hannity, during a discussion about Trump's birther claims, Hannity asked why it's “so toxic to bring up” the birth certificate issue. He then asked his panelists for their birth certificates. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/18/11, via Media Matters]

Hannity Provided Birther Platform For Trump In Interview. During the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity aired an interview in which he provided a platform for Trump's birther theories, including asking Trump what his investigators in Hawaii have found regarding Obama's birth. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11, via Media Matters]

Hannity Promotes Trump: His “Popularity” Is Due To Taking On “Controversial Issues,” Is A “Lesson” For Republicans. On the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity claimed that Trump's “popularity” provides “a lesson, here, for Republican candidates: Fight, fight -- take on controversial issues, don't back down, and battle.” [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11, via Media Matters]

Hannity Jumped Aboard “Trump 2012” -- Birtherism And All. During the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity helped to promote Trump's birther claims, later airing a graphic promoting a “Trump 2012” presidential run. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11, via Media Matters]

Palin On Trump Allegedly Sending Researchers To Hawaii To Investigate Obama's Birth: “More Power To Him.” On the April 9 edition of Fox News' Justice with Judge Jeanine, Fox News contributor Sarah Palin said of Trump's claim that he sent researchers to Hawaii to investigate Obama's birth certificate: “More power to him.” Palin later stated, “I think that [Obama] was born in Hawaii, because there was the birth announcement put in the newspaper, but obviously, if there's something there that the president doesn't want people to see on that birth certificate, that he [seems to] be going to great lengths to make sure that it isn't shown, and that's kind of perplexing for a lot of people.” From Justice with Judge Jeanine:

JEANINE PIRRO (host): All right, Governor. Donald Trump, who is considering a run for the presidency, says that he's got investigators in Hawaii looking for President Obama's birth certificate. What do you make of that?

PALIN: Well, I appreciate that the Donald wants to spend his resources in getting to the bottom of something that so interests him and many Americans. You know, more power to him. He's not just throwing stones and - from the sidelines. He's digging in there; he's paying for researchers to find out why President Obama would have spent $2 million to not show his birth certificate. So, you know, more power to him. [Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanine, 4/9/11]

Fox's Morris Reportedly Said Trump's Birther Claims Are “Within The Foul Lines.” In an April 2 article about Trump, the New York Post reported that Fox News contributor Dick Morris said that Trump's recent “birther talk” is “within the foul lines,” while “everyone else who spoke with The Post [sic] thinks it's a major tactical mistake.” [New York Post, 4/2/11]