Fox News said host Sean Hannity’s appearance on stage at a “Make America Great Again” rally with President Trump was an “unfortunate distraction.
“Fox News does not condone any talent participating in campaign events,” a spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. “We have an extraordinary team of journalists helming our coverage tonight and we are extremely proud of their work. This was an unfortunate distraction and has been addressed.”
On Monday evening during a rally in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Trump invited Hannity to the stage, where he proceeded to praise Trump for “promises made, promises kept,” among other things.
[Opinion: Sean Hannity’s status as commentator no excuse for appearing on stage at Trump rally]
The remarks came after Hannity announced that although he had been listed as a “special guest” in a Trump campaign email to reporters on Sunday, he would not be campaigning on stage with Trump, but rather covering the event.
“To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President,” Hannity tweeted Monday. “I am covering final rally for my show. Something I have done in every election in the past.”
Hannity has since defended himself and said that his original comment was accurate, since he was surprised that Trump invited him to the stage.
“What I said in my tweet yesterday was 100% truthful,” Hannity tweeted Tuesday. “When the POTUS invited me on stage to give a few remarks last night, I was surprised, yet honored by the president’s request. This was NOT planned.”
What I said in my tweet yesterday was 100% truthful. When the POTUS invited me on stage to give a few remarks last night, I was surprised, yet honored by the president’s request. This was NOT planned.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 6, 2018
Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro also was invited to the stage by Trump, who said she “treats us very, very well.”
