Donald Trump Wanted This Fox News Host As Running Mate, Says New Book

Huffpost - Jan 9th, 2025
Open on Huffpost

In an intriguing revelation from Alex Isenstadt's upcoming book, 'Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power,' it is disclosed that Donald Trump seriously contemplated selecting Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo as his vice-presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Trump, who was reportedly keen on Bartiromo for her television skills and connections with Wall Street donors, was eventually persuaded by his team not to pursue the idea due to time constraints on vetting. Consequently, Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate, making a strategic decision to fortify his campaign ahead of the imminent election.

This revelation underscores the close ties and influence media personalities can have in political circles, especially those who have maintained favorable relationships with political figures. Bartiromo, known for her amiable interviews with Trump, represents a segment of media figures who have transitioned into political advisory roles. The implications of such potential appointments highlight the intersection of media and politics, raising questions about the role of journalistic integrity and influence. Additionally, the book sheds light on Trump's decision-making process and the dynamics within his campaign team, offering insights into the strategies employed by political entities to secure electoral success.

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RATING

4.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents an intriguing narrative about Donald Trump's possible vice-presidential pick, but it suffers from several shortcomings in accuracy, balance, source quality, transparency, and clarity. It bases its claims on a forthcoming book by a Politico journalist, which lends some credibility. However, the article lacks depth in verifying these claims with additional sources. It also presents a narrow perspective, focusing heavily on Trump's consideration of Maria Bartiromo without offering broader context or other viewpoints. The sources referenced are limited, relying primarily on the book's excerpts and CNN's coverage, which may not provide a comprehensive view. Transparency is another area of concern, as the article does not sufficiently disclose the methodologies behind its claims or potential biases of the sources. Finally, the article's clarity is compromised by a lack of logical structure and the inclusion of promotional content for HuffPost, which distracts from the main narrative. Overall, while the article touches on an interesting subject, it could benefit from improved accuracy, balance, and clarity to enhance its journalistic quality.

RATING DETAILS

5
Accuracy

The article's accuracy is moderate, as it is partially based on excerpts from a forthcoming book by Alex Isenstadt, a reputable Politico journalist. However, the claims regarding Trump's consideration of Maria Bartiromo as a vice-presidential candidate are not independently verified or supported by additional sources. The article mentions CNN's publication of these excerpts, which adds some credibility, but it fails to provide further details or evidence to substantiate the claims. The mention of JD Vance as the eventual vice-presidential pick lacks context and supporting information. Overall, the article could improve its accuracy by including more verifiable data and corroborating the claims with multiple sources.

4
Balance

The article lacks balance, as it predominantly focuses on one perspective—the account of Trump's consideration of Maria Bartiromo from the book excerpt. It does not offer alternative viewpoints or insights from other stakeholders involved in the decision-making process, such as members of Trump's team or political analysts. The narrative also implies a favorable stance toward Trump and Bartiromo without addressing potential criticisms or opposing views. This lack of diverse perspectives results in an imbalanced portrayal of the situation. To enhance balance, the article could benefit from incorporating interviews or statements from other political figures or experts to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the context.

4
Clarity

The article's clarity is hindered by a lack of logical structure and the inclusion of unrelated promotional content for HuffPost. The narrative about Trump's consideration of Maria Bartiromo is interspersed with calls for reader support, which disrupts the flow and coherence of the article. Additionally, the article could benefit from a more organized presentation of facts and clearer transitions between different segments. The use of emotive language, such as 'fearlessly report' and 'vital information,' in the promotional content contrasts with the neutral tone expected in journalism. To improve clarity, the article should focus on maintaining a consistent and neutral tone, removing unrelated content, and organizing information in a more logical sequence.

6
Source quality

The source quality is somewhat limited, as the article primarily relies on excerpts from Alex Isenstadt's upcoming book and CNN's coverage of those excerpts. While Isenstadt is a credible journalist, the article does not cite additional authoritative sources to corroborate the claims. The lack of a variety of sources weakens the overall reliability and depth of the reporting. Additionally, the article does not address any potential conflicts of interest or external influences that might affect the impartiality of the reporting. To improve source quality, the article could include statements from other reputable news outlets, political experts, or individuals directly involved in the events described.

3
Transparency

The article's transparency is lacking, as it does not clearly explain the basis for the claims made or the methodologies used to gather information. There is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest related to the sources or the author of the book. Additionally, the article includes promotional content for HuffPost, which detracts from the transparency and focus of the main narrative. This promotional content could be perceived as a conflict of interest, as it shifts attention away from the article's primary subject. To enhance transparency, the article should provide more detailed context about the book's excerpts, the author's background, and any potential biases that may affect the reporting.