Trump goes after Fox News host, and the network, in Twitter flurry

Donald Trump on Monday night issued a flurry of angry messages against Fox News’ Neil Cavuto — and the network itself — after the host criticized the president for saying he’d been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against coronavirus.

The president revealed earlier Monday that he’d taking the drug, to the chagrin of health experts who warn there has been little evidence it is an effective treatment or deterrent for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Health experts warn that hydroxychloroquine could even lead to adverse effects if taken outside of its intended uses — such as treating malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis — and say that Trump’s continued praise for the drug could lead to a run on supplies.

Speaking Monday afternoon, Cavuto said on his show: “The president insisted that [hydroxychloroquine] has enormous benefits for patients either trying to prevent or already have Covid-19. The fact of the matter is, though, when the president said, ‘What have you got to lose?’ the number of studies [show] the population have one thing to lose: their lives.”

Cavuto continued: “If you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus, or in a worst-case scenario you are dealing with the virus and you are in this vulnerable population, it will kill you. I cannot stress that enough. This will kill you.”

Trump in turn retweeted half a dozen Twitter posts attacking Cavuto and calling him an “idiot,” “foolish,” “gullible” and “an asshole.” The president chose his own words for the network, saying in a tweet that Fox News, which has generally provided favorable coverage of Trump, “is no longer the same.”

“We miss the great Roger Ailes,” the president wrote. “You have more anti-Trump people, by far, than ever before. Looking for a new outlet!”

Ailes served as head of the Fox News network and resigned in 2016 after numerous allegations of sexual harassment. He advised Trump on debate prep during the 2016 election. Ailes died in 2017.

Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s Monday night remarks. Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News host who sued Ailes over allegations of sexual harassment, retweeted Trump’s comment with a GIF of an exasperated Kim Richards from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

Trump’s relationship with the network has been wavering in recent months. The president, whose disdain of critical news coverage is well documented, lashed out at Fox News last month, claiming it was being fed “Democrat talking points.”

“The people who are watching @FoxNews, in record numbers (thank you President Trump), are angry. They want an alternative now. So do I!” Trump tweeted on April 26.

Rishika Dugyala contributed to this report.