Donald Trump Literally Goes on Truth Social Rant Complaining Fox News Refuses to Cover His Packed Rallies

President Donald Trump criticised Fox News on Truth Social after its Sunday programming did not provide the coverage he wanted for his Ohio rally.

Trump claimed the event was packed and said recent rallies in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma were also sold out.

The complaint came on Sunday, 4 October, one day after Trump rallied Republican supporters in Vandalia, Ohio. He was campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.

Trump's criticism focused on Fox & Friends Weekend, which he said failed to showcase what he described as highly successful Republican rallies. However, Fox News did cover the Ohio event on Sunday, including reporting about Trump's remarks concerning data centres and the midterm elections.

Trump Challenges Fox News Over Rally Coverage

In his 4 October post, Trump wrote that it was 'sad to see' Fox & Friends was not covering what he called a 'packed house' in Ohio. He also claimed the rallies were 'all sold out, with thousands of people trying to get in'.

NBC News reported stretches of empty seats in the upper bleachers at the Ohio venue, while other reports noted that the gym could hold about 5,000 people.

Trump also complained that other networks were reporting on his rallies 'really positively'. He warned that supporters could stop watching Fox News, adding that he was already doing so himself despite posting his criticism while discussing the network.

The president then criticised Fox News contributors and singled out Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic strategist and co-host of The Five. Trump called her 'stupid' and complained that figures like her were being 'forced down MAGA'S throats'. Tarlov remains a co-host on The Five, according to recent reporting.

Trump also referred to Maria Bartiromo, who left Fox News Media on 3 September. Fox News confirmed that her departure was effective immediately and thanked her for more than 12 years with the company.

The Mirror reported on the dispute after Trump's post and the visible gaps in seating at the Ohio rally. However, the primary record of Trump's comments is his Truth Social post, which captures his remarks about Fox News, Tarlov, and Bartiromo.

What the Rally and Fox Coverage Show

Trump's description of the Ohio crowd contrasts with independent reporting from the event. The rally took place inside the Butler High School gymnasium in Vandalia, where reporters observed empty stretches in the upper seating areas.

That does not establish the total attendance or prove that the venue was substantially empty. It does show why Trump's description of a completely sold-out event should be treated as a claim rather than an independently verified fact.

Fox News' coverage also complicates the suggestion that the network ignored the Ohio rally. Its Oct. 4 political coverage reported on Trump's campaign appearance, while Fox News video showed the president addressing supporters in Vandalia.

Trump's complaint was therefore more specifically about the prominence and tone of coverage. His post argued that Fox should devote more attention to his rallies and suggested that failing to do so could hurt the network's audience.

His comments about Bartiromo require similar caution. Fox News said she was no longer with Fox News Media from 3 September, but her attorney later disputed reports describing her departure as a firing. Trump offered his own explanation, claiming she was removed because she complained about coverage of him, but he provided no evidence.

The dispute illustrates the tension between Trump's expectations of favourable coverage and Fox News' editorial decisions. It also shows how quickly disagreements between Trump and media organisations can become public political controversies.

For readers, the key distinction is between what Trump alleged and what can be independently established.

Trump said his rallies were sold out and deserved more coverage, while available reporting confirms the Ohio rally occurred, that Fox News did cover it, and that Trump publicly criticised the network and threatened consequences if its coverage did not change.

His post ended with another warning about Fox News' ratings, comparing the network with CNN and MS NOW. Whether the criticism affects Fox's programming remains uncertain, but Trump's intervention has put the network's coverage of his campaign back under public scrutiny.