×

Fox’s Megyn Kelly: O’Reilly, CNN should have done more for me

NEW YORK – Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly is taking notes on who she feels has been supportive when she was attacked by Donald Trump, and colleague Bill O’Reilly and CNN are both on her list.

Kelly, in an interview with Charlie Rose to air on CBS’ “Sunday Morning” this weekend, said she wished O’Reilly had done more to defend her when he interviewed Trump before a January debate that the Republican skipped because he wanted Kelly removed as a moderator.

She also wishes CNN hadn’t aired portions of a Trump rally on the night of that debate.

Her remarks laid bare tension between Fox’s two top personalities.

O’Reilly’s prime-time show has been the most-watched on cable news for many years, but has been challenged recently in the ratings by Kelly, whose show airs directly after his.

The Republican presidential candidate has been badmouthing Kelly, mostly via Twitter, ever since he was taken aback by her tough question in an August debate on his comments about women.

O’Reilly asked Trump to reconsider missing the Fox debate in Iowa, but it was noted by many that he didn’t rush to defend Kelly when Trump attacked her during the interview.

Kelly called it a “dark moment” and said she would have done more to defend O’Reilly if the positions had been switched.

“I think Bill did the best he’s capable of doing in those circumstances,” Kelly said, which Rose said was “damning with faint praise.”

During the Jan. 28 debate, Trump held a fundraiser for veterans nearby in Iowa. CNN, which has seen its ratings soar with nearly full-time campaign coverage, aired some of that rally and Kelly said the network shouldn’t have.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today