11 Of Right-Wing Media’s Most Ludicrous Defenses Of Donald Trump

“I Agree With Mr. Trump” That Mexicans Are Criminals: When Fox's Sean Hannity Defended Trump’s Claim That Mexicans Are Rapists. Fox host Sean Hannity defended presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s June 2015 assertion that Mexico is sending “rapists” and “criminals” to the U.S., even as media figures across the political spectrum slammed the assertion as “full of bigotry.” Hannity said, “I agree with Mr. Trump. As somebody who has been down to the border 11 times, I have seen the drug warehouses, I was there when criminals were arrested, I know the human trafficking side and the impact on our educational system, criminal justice system, [and] our health care system.” [Media Matters, 6/7/16]

“I’m Not A Fan Of Megyn Kelly” But “I Like To Just Look At Her” While I “Sit Naked On The Couch”: When NRA’s Ted Nugent Defended Trump’s Lewd Comments About Megyn Kelly. National Rifle Association (NRA) board member Ted Nugent agreed with Trump after the presumptive nominee made crude comments about Fox host Megyn Kelly after the first Republican primary debate. In August, Trump said of Kelly, one of the debate moderators, “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her -- wherever,” a remark many took as a reference to menstruation. Nugent defended the comments and added, “I'm not a fan of Megyn Kelly, although I often turn on Fox just to look at her. Sometimes when I'm loading my [gun ammunition] magazines, I like to just look at her. And I usually sit naked on the couch dropping hot brass on my stuff." [Media Matters, 8/12/15]

“There Is No Other Term To Use”: When Sean Hannity Defended Trump’s “Disparaging” Racial Slur To Describe Children Of Immigrants. After Trump described children of immigrants with the slur “anchor babies” -- a term widely deemed as “offensive” and “disparaging” that is based on the long-debunked conservative myth that undocumented immigrants come to the U.S. specifically to have children -- Sean Hannity covered for Trump, claiming that “there is no other term to use.” [Fox News, Hannity, 8/20/15; Media Matters, 8/20/15]

It Has “So Many Good Aspects”: When Fox's Eric Bolling Defended Trump's “Deportation Force” As “Good For Latinos.” After Trump proposed creating a “deportation force” to forcibly remove millions of immigrants from the country, invoking President Dwight Eisenhower’s “inhumane” and “unabashedly racist” deportation program as a blueprint, Fox News host Eric Bolling argued that the proposal would be “good for Latinos,” who would be be happier re-entering the country “the right way.” [Fox News, The Five, 11/12/15; Media Matters, 11/11/15]

“There Is No Political Correctness In War”: When Limbaugh Defended Trump’s Endorsement Of Waterboarding. After Trump said that he supports waterboarding suspected terrorists because “it’s peanuts compared to what they do to us,” conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh defended Trump, saying that “there is no political correctness in war” and suggesting that waterboarding aligns with how “a majority of Americans in this country define patriotism.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 11/23/15]    

“They're Trying To Make Something Out Of Nothing”: When Hosts Of Fox News’ The Five Defended Trump From Critics After He Refused To Disavow KKK Leader. After Trump initially declined to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke after Duke offered support for Trump -- which was criticized by media figures across the political spectrum as “disqualifying” -- hosts of Fox News’ The Five defended Trump and shamed critics for “trying to make something out of nothing.” [Fox News, The Five, 2/29/16; Media Matters, 2/29/16]

“It’s Just A Figure Of Speech”: When Fox Hosts Defended Trump's Claim That Riots Would Occur At The RNC Convention Trump was widely and repeatedly criticized for inciting violence at his events after he warned that riots and “bad things would happen” if he does not secure the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. Several Fox News hosts defended Trump from the criticism, arguing that Trump was “speaking metaphorically” and was using “a figure of speech.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/17/16; Fox News, Happening Now,  3/17/16; Media Matters, 6/3/16]

“He’s Learning As He Goes”: When Fox Hosts Dismissed Trump’s Comments That Women Should Be Punished For Abortions. After Trump told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that “there has to be some form of punishment” for women who have abortions during a March town hall, hosts of Fox News’ Fox & Friends excused his stance because “he only became a politician about six or seven months ago” and because “largely political questions” were “new for him.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/31/16; Media Matters, 3/31/16]

Paul Ryan Is “Racist”: When Jeffrey Lord Defended Trump From Criticism About His Race-Based Attacks On A Judge. After Trump attacked a federal judge’s “Mexican heritage” as “an inherent conflict of interest” in a lawsuit against Trump’s now-defunct real estate seminar business, Trump University, Paul Ryan labeled Trump’s comments as “the textbook definition of racism.” In response, CNN commentator and Trump supporter Jeffrey Lord appeared on CNN’s America’s Choice 2016 and defended Trump from the criticism by accusing Ryan of “supporting identity politics, which is racist.” [CNN, America’s Choice 2016, 6/7/16; Media Matters, 6/7/16]

“Is It Another Rolling Stone Hit Job?”: When Fox Hosts Brushed Aside Trump’s Derogatory Remarks About Carly Fiorina’s Appearance. After Trump mocked then-Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina’s appearance during a September 2015 Rolling Stone interview, saying, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?” Fox hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade defended Trump’s comments, stating “I just want to hear Donald Trump’s explanation” and questioning whether it's “another Rolling Stone hit job?” [Rolling Stone, 9/9/15; Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/10/15]

He Only “Says It One Time”: When Fox & Friends Hosts Defended Trump's Comment That John McCain Is Only A War Hero “Because He Was Captured.” After Trump told the Iowa Family Leadership Summit in June 2015 that he believed Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was “not a war hero” and that people only considered him a war hero “because he was captured,” Fox & Friends hosts defended the remarks, arguing that people should “keep in mind” that “he sa[id] it one time, then immediately correct[ed] himself.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 6/20/15]