Fox News chryon text called Biden a 'wannabe dictator' who got 'his political rival arrested' during broadcast of Trump's post-courtroom speech
Fox News
- A Fox News chyron called Biden a "wannabe dictator " who had "his political rival arrested."
- The text accompanied footage of Trump speaking after he was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday.
- Trump pleading not guilty to 37 counts brought against him over handling of classified documents.
On Tuesday night, as Fox News aired footage of both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, the onscreen text read "wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested."
"Fox News Tonight" carried clips of Trump's speech after he was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday, alongside footage of Biden speaking at the White House, the latter with no audio.
Biden did not mention Trump during his speech.
The onscreen text remained in place for around 15 seconds, continuing into the next show "Hannity," Mediaite reported.
It is not clear who, if anyone, approved the text.
Fox News did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.
Trump was arrested and arraigned in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, after pleading not guilty to 37 criminal counts brought against him by the Justice Department's special counsel.
Prosecutors say Trump kept classified documents after he left office, and that he violated the Espionage Act 31 times, obstructed justice, and lied to the FBI.
The indictment said that among the 37 boxes of documents found in Trump's possession was information about US nuclear programs and US military vulnerabilities. It also said that boxes of classified documents were kept in a shower at his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate.
Another "Fox News Tonight" chyron on Tuesday said Trump was "targeted by Biden's Department of Justice."
Trump has repeatedly attacked the Justice Department, which the White House says operates independently.
Biden said earlier this month that "I have never once — not one single time — suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do, relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge."
The Fox News onscreen text about Biden came despite Trump once praising China's President Xi Jinping for becoming "president for life," while joking that he should try to do the same thing.
Trump has also famously refused to recognize the results of the 2020 election, in which he lost to Biden.
Fox News was the only major cable news network to carry Trump's speech live on Tuesday night, according to The Guardian.