Fox Suspends Gingrich’s Contract Amid VP Speculation

Days Before Trump Set To Name VP, Fox Suspends Gingrich From Contributor Position To “Avoid All Conflicts Of Interest.” Fox News suspended Newt Gingrich from his contributor position on July 12 “to avoid all conflicts of interest that may arise” just days before Trump is set to name his running mate. Fox News and other outlets have repeatedly mentioned  Gingrich as Trump’s possible vice presidential running mate for months. [Media Matters, 7/12/16]

On The Same Day He Was Suspended From Fox, Gingrich Said He’d Accept VP Slot If Asked By Trump. Immediately after Fox suspended Gingrich, he appeared on Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto and told guest host Sandra Smith, “I don't see how you could turn it down. I think you'd have to,” referring to the possibility of being named Trump’s running mate. [Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, 7/12/16]

Fox Figures Lionize Gingrich, Say Trump-Gingrich Would Be “An Ideal Republican Ticket”

Fox’s Sean Hannity, Herman Cain, And Laura Ingraham Laud Trump-Gingrich As “An Ideal Republican Ticket.” Fox host Sean Hannity and Fox contributors Laura Ingraham and Herman Cain all cheered the prospect of a Trump-Gingrich ticket during a panel discussion on Trump’s vice presidential options. Hannity said of Gingrich, “There’s nobody that is more intelligent and articulate,” and when “people that maybe don't know Newt … hear him talk, they will be impressed.” Cain said, “I believe it should be Newt Gingrich” because he “represents both insider and outsider experience,” and he noted that  a Trump-Gingrich pairing would be “an ideal Republican ticket.” Ingraham said Gingrich would be the best choice to help Trump “navigate through … very tough and troubling times.” From the July 12 edition of Fox News’ Hannity:

SEAN HANNITY (HOST): Herman, who should Donald Trump pick to be his VP?

HERMAN CAIN: You didn't say that was going to be the first question. But since you asked --

HANNITY: I don't give you the questions ahead of time. I believe in your ability to speak off the cuff.

CAIN: I believe it should be Newt Gingrich for the following reasons. Number one, Newt represents both insider and outsider experience, and that's unique. I know some people want to make age a factor. I don't think that's the most important thing. I think that Newt would bring to Donald Trump as president insider and outsider experience, and I think that would be valuable, not just relative to what's going on domestically, but also what's happening around the world. I think it would be an ideal Republican ticket.

HANNITY: You know, Laura, I think the age argument is irrelevant also because I think even people that maybe don't know Newt, maybe millennials, when they hear him talk, they will be impressed. There's nobody that is more intelligent and articulate.

LAURA INGRAHAM: I don't think he thinks he's going to get it. We were chatting earlier, and maybe it's just humility, but I think both he and General Flynn -- I mean they were just giving off the sense that they're not going to be selected. And, the conventional wisdom buzzing around Washington, Sean and Herman, is that Mike Pence is who the presumptive Republican nominee has settled on. And, we've all known Mike Pence for a long time. I think he's a great guy. I think he's really smart, a former radio talk show host, Sean. And governor of Indiana, of course.

[...]

HANNITY: God forbid, I pray it never happens, but probably something is going to happen. If there's a Pearl Harbor, a 9/11, a financial crisis, a depression, who do you want in the room, Laura? I'll ask you first. Who do you want by your side to navigate through those very tough and troubling times?

INGRAHAM: I think Gingrich -- you make a great point. I think Gingrich, I think Christie. I think -- I mean almost everybody on the short list has something to offer. [Fox News, Hannity, 7/12/16]

Ainsley Earhardt, Pete Hegseth Push Gingrich As “A Governing Pick As Well As A Smart Campaign Pick.” Fox host Ainsley Earhardt praised the possibility of Gingrich as Trump’s running mate, saying he is “a very smart” person with “a lot of political experience,” “a great orator,” and a good VP pick because “a lot of people know who he is.” Fox contributor Pete Hegseth said Gingrich “would be a governing pick as well as a smart campaign pick, because obviously he's been competent on both sides.” Hegseth also said of Gingrich, “Is there anyone with more political experience?” From the July 13 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends:

CLAYTON MORRIS (CO-HOST): And of course, [Trump is] throwing out the old rule book. The old rule book was, where could you get a bump? In what state could we maybe get a VP candidate that's going to give us a bump? Maybe it's Ohio, maybe it's Pennsylvania, maybe it's Florida. Maybe it's a voting bloc, Latino voters. All out the window this time.

AINSLEY EARHARDT (CO-HOST): Well that says a lot about who he is as a person. He's not the establishment. He's not doing it the way it's always been done, and a lot of people like that. We had Herman Cain on the show in the last hour. We were asking him who his pick is. This is what he had to say.

[BEGIN CLIP]

HERMAN CAIN: I would pick Newt Gingrich because Newt Gingrich can be an attack dog and he is also a smart dog. Newt has the unique perspective of having been an insider and an outsider. He understands how to connect with the American people. That's the smart dog part. Attack dog part -- he is so knowledgeable of both domestic and international issues, he can attack people with the facts instead of just with erroneous statements like Hillary Clinton is doing.

[END CLIP]

PETE HEGSETH (GUEST CO-HOST): To that case, it would be a governing pick as well as a smart campaign pick, because obviously he's been competent on both sides, Gingrich has.

EARHARDT: Well he said he's going to pick someone who has political experience. Clearly he has a lot of political experience.

HEGSETH: Is there anyone with more political experience?

EARHARDT: He's very smart. He thinks about -- he's a great orator, and a lot of people know who he his. Name recognition is important. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/13/16]

SANDRA SMITH (CO-HOST): Meghan, I spoke with Newt Gingrich, former speaker yesterday afternoon. He said he's totally up for the job still. He would accept it if offered. But I said what do you think is the most important thing for Donald Trump, knowing him as well as you do? He said, one, that it's somebody capable of being president. Two, that they need to have good chemistry. He said this is a very personal decision for Donald Trump, and it has to be somebody he's comfortable working with for the next four to eight years, if elected. 

MEGHAN MCCAIN (CO-HOST): Well here's why I like Newt Gingrich, for a lot of different reasons. Number one, he is an architect of modern conservatism for a very long time. He's nothing short of brilliant. And, on top of everything else, he will call Donald Trump out on some of his incendiary language, which is something Donald Trump really needs. He needs to understand how establishment Republicans and people, more traditional Republicans, feel going forward. And I actually think he's the best pick. [Fox News, Outnumbered, 7/13/16] 

Network Has Backed Gingrich As Potential Trump Running Mate Since May

Sean Hannity To Gingrich: “I Would Pick You.” During a May 16 interview on Fox News’ Hannity, host Sean Hannity told Gingrich he had his support as the “best” running mate for Trump based on who could get “the job done”:

SEAN HANNITY: You know, Donald Trump said he wants to hire the best. You were the architect. This goes we (sic) back before the “Contract” was ever written or even thought about or any though (sic) of Republicans coming into power for the first time in 40 years.

You put together a series of tapes called “Renewing American civilization.”  I still have a copy of those tapes, which really was the intellectual underpinnings of the “Contract.” If I'm mistaken, correct me.

So you were successful. Trump likes successful people. You brought Republicans back to power. You were the last speaker to balance the budget. You were the last speaker to be transformative in terms of doing big things in Washington like welfare reform and maybe a few other things you'd care to mention.

That to me naturally makes you a top contender for the VP. I think that's the best choice if Donald Trump's criteria is not geographical, it's not gender, race-related in terms of thought (ph) as others would suggest, but the best person to get the job done. You've done it.

Can you name anyone else that has more experience and gave -- and has more success in terms of a track record in D.C. than you?

[…]

HANNITY: Then who better that could work with the House and Senate? I would -- if it was -- if anyone listened to me -- nobody ever does -- I would pick you. I'd pick you because you have that relationship. You have the intellectual capacity. You have a knowledge of history. You said this weekend that you would likely take it, but you didn't give an affirmative.  Why? [Fox News, Hannity, 5/16/16, via FoxNews.com]

Hannity To Gingrich: “I Did Have A Poll On My Web Site, Hannity.com, And You Did Win The Poll.” Hannity then suggested Gingrich would help Trump balance the federal budget:

SEAN HANNITY: Well, I would like to see maybe even a team of rivals like the Rick Perrys and Bobby Jindals and Rick Scotts and John Kasichs and Rudy Giulianis and Newt Gingriches, you know, be named ahead of time and show that, Hey, he's serious about bringing serious, successful people that have governed well into government, which leads me to this, the question you'll hate.

You're the last guy that balanced the budget, last speaker of the House to balance the budget. You brought welfare reform. This was a real transformative speakership that you had. Your name keeps popping up for VP. If asked, would you accept it?

NEWT GINGRICH: Well, I'd certainly talk about it. I wouldn't turn it down automatically. And Callista and I are both aware of how -- the importance of being good citizens. But I have to say, it keeps getting brought up because you keep bringing it up.

HANNITY: No, no. It's not me. I did have a poll on my Web site, Hannity.com, and you did win the poll. And I didn't -- I'm not -- are you accusing my audience of being biased?

GINGRICH: No, I'm accusing you of being biased. The audience is just (INAUDIBLE)

HANNITY: Well, tell me who else is going to balance the budget? Who's going to...

GINGRICH: Look...

HANNITY: Who else is going to literally -- I don't think this is a time for half measures. I'm being serious now. [Fox News, Hannity, 5/11/16, via FoxNews.com]

Hannity Panel On Gingrich: “He's A Genius,” “The Guy's Got A Giant Brain.” During a discussion on Hannity, radio host Gina Loudon said Gingrich would be her choice for vice president, claiming that he would bring in Christian conservatives and that “he's a genius.” Conservative commentator Charles Hurt replied that “the guy's got a giant brain and he understands, he has thought about all these issues that Donald Trump has had a hard time with.” Hannity replied, “I don't know if you can do better than” Gingrich, saying, “He is the last guy that had any significant impact on advancing conservatism and making the country a better place.” From the discussion:

SEAN HANNITY: Who do you like for VP?

GINA LOUDON: I like Newt Gingrich.

HANNITY: Newt Gingrich.

LOUDON: I like Newt Gingrich. I like him because I think he coalesces that Christian conservative, some of the never-Trump people I think he can bring it. Plus he's a genius.

HANNITY: He's the smartest guy in the Republican Party. Charles, who do you like?

CHARLES HURT: I think Newt would be a good choice, but I also could see Donald Trump doing something that no political consultant would ever advise, and that is pick somebody just like him from the business world. Carly Fiorina put herself out of the running for that, but it could be something that nobody expects.

HANNITY: I think you need somebody, though, that can reach out to Congress. Look, Newt has the credibility. Look, he is the last guy that gave us a balanced budget in this country. He is the last guy that had any significant impact on advancing conservatism and making the country a better place. I don't know if you can do better than that. There are great governors, as I've pointed out. There are some good people in the Senate, but I don't know. Final words?

HURT: As Gina said, the guy's got a giant brain and he understands, he has thought about all these issues that Donald Trump has had a hard time with. Newt Gingrich has thought about these issues at the deepest levels. [Fox News, Hannity, 5/10/16, via FoxNews.com]

Bill O’Reilly To Gingrich: “You Would Provide Him With The Working Knowledge Of Congress. … I Think You Are Going To Get It.” Fox’s Bill O’Reilly predicted that Gingrich would get the running mate spot and praised him for having a “working knowledge of Congress” and being “a conservative with bona fides that [Trump] doesn't have”:

BILL O'REILLY: But you don't know how many -- now, all right. So, that would be interesting Trump-Gingrich ticket. Because you would provide him with the working knowledge of Congress which he doesn't have. You are also a conservative with bona fides that he doesn't have.

[…]

O'REILLY: Now, and I don't want to be bold and fresh here even though that's my description. You know a lot more about policy than Donald Trump knows. Would that, you know, would the VP --

NEWT GINGRICH: Well, there are a lot of very good candidates. That know a great deal. And he has been very clear that he wants an insider because he understands that while he has done an amazing job arousing the country, building a real movement, to get things done in Washington, as he proved in the visit yesterday, you have got to sit down and talk to the legislators. You have to work out a strategy. But he has got a number of talented people he could call on. You know, so I think the list is -- I don't know who is on the list.

O'REILLY: I know pretty much who is on the list. I think you are going to get it. I think that he is going to choose you. I mean, this is, again, I'm making this not based on any inside information I want the audience to know. I don't know that nobody has said that to me. But I do know who he is considering just by a deduction. And I think he will select you. And I think Rudy Giuliani, he is going to say is going to be Homeland Security guy. Chris Christie is going to be Attorney General. Ben Carson is going to be Health and Human Services. So, he is going to go into the Cleveland convention with his whole crew which is going to mollify the Republican establishment because you are the Republican establishment. Are you not? [Fox News, Hannity, 5/13/16, via FoxNews.com]

Laura Ingraham: “Gingrich Would Be A Great Vice Presidential Pick.” While appearing on Hannity, radio host and Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham said, “Gingrich would be a great vice presidential pick. I think Newt would be good.” [Fox News, Hannity, 5/2/16, via FoxNews.com]

Peter Johnson Jr.: “A Great Choice Would Be Newt Gingrich.” Peter Johnson Jr., a Fox News legal analyst and the personal lawyer for Fox News head Roger Ailes, said: “I think a great choice would be Newt Gingrich. He would bring tremendous stability, tremendous gravitas, incredible intellect, judgment experience over many decades in American government. … No one understands the history of government better the Newt Gingrich. It would be a dynamite ticket in my view, dynamite.” [New York, 10/25/12; Fox News, Hannity, 5/17/16, via FoxNews.com]