If Fox News’ Megyn Kelly is expecting an apology from Donald Trump, she’ll be waiting a very, very long time.
On Tuesday, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate rejected Fox president Roger Ailes’ demand that he apologize to Kelly for disparaging her on Twitter this week.
“I do not think Megyn Kelly is a quality journalist. I think her questioning of me, despite all of the polls saying I won the debate, was very unfair,” Trump said in a statement, referring to the questions he was asked in the first GOP primary debate. “Hopefully in the future I will be proven wrong and she will be able to elevate her standards to a level of professionalism that a network such as FOX deserves.
The statement continued, with Trump touting his poll numbers.
“More importantly, I am very pleased to see the latest polls from Public Policy Polling showing me at a strong number one with 35% in New Hampshire and the Monmouth University poll showing me, again at number one, with 30% in South Carolina,” he said.
“It was also just announced that I won the prestigious corn kernel poll at the Iowa State Fair by a landslide,” he added. “I will be in Iowa tonight with my speech being live on CNN and other networks. My sole focus in running for the Presidency is to Make America Great Again!”
Trump let loose on his Twitter account Monday, jeering at Kelly as she hosted her first show since returning from her scheduled post-primary debate vacation.
“[Megyn Kelly] must have had a terrible vacation, she is really off her game. Was afraid to confront Dr. Cornel West. No clue on immigration!” he tweeted. “I liked The Kelly File much better without [her]. Perhaps she could take another eleven day unscheduled vacation!”
Ailes responded on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the real estate executive had crossed a line.
“Donald Trump’s surprise and unprovoked attack on Megyn Kelly during her show last night is as unacceptable as it is disturbing. Megyn Kelly represents the very best of American journalism and all of us at Fox News Channel reject the crude and irresponsible attempts to suggest otherwise,” his statement read.
“I could not be more proud of Megyn for her professionalism and class in the face of all of Mr. Trump’s verbal assaults. Her questioning of Mr. Trump at the debate was tough but fair, and I fully support her as she continues to ask the probing and challenging questions that all presidential candidates may find difficult to answer,” he added.
Ailes promised that Fox personalities would continue to offer “fair and balanced” journalism.
“Donald Trump rarely apologizes, although in this case, he should. We have never been deterred by politicians or anyone else attacking us for doing our job, much less allowed ourselves to be bullied by anyone and we’re certainly not going to start now,” the statement said. “All of our journalists will continue to report in the fair and balanced way that has made FOX News Channel the number one news network in the industry.”
The back-and-forth Tuesday between Trump and Ailes marks the reigniting of a war of words that began immediately after the first GOP primary debate.
Trump complained after his performance that Kelly and her colleagues, Bret Baier and Chris Wallace, had treated him unfairly. His complaints soon escalated into outright jabs as seemingly suggesting at one point that Kelly was menstruating when she moderated the debate.
Ailes and Trump later reportedly struck a truce, with both parties praising the other for coming to an agreement. Trump has since been granted multiple interviews with seemingly sympathetic Fox News hosts. His campaign has also generated hours of coverage from the cable news networks.
