“I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov of THE FIVE. A real loser!!!” — President Donald J. Trump
Once again, President Trump has set the media world ablaze. This time with a Truth Social post slamming Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov after an emotional gun control segment on The Five.
The moment? Tarlov’s emotional outburst in response to a deadly stabbing spree in New York that left four dead. But for Trump and his supporters, it wasn’t just emotional. It was misleading and political.
Tarlov’s Gun Control Push Sparks Outrage
In the now-viral segment, Tarlov urged stricter gun laws and the return of the federal assault weapons ban, suggesting it had reduced mass shootings in the past. “How did he get a concealed carry license even in Nevada?” she asked on-air, before concluding, “If you stopped this one, we’d have four people alive today.”
Tarlov’s tearful monologue may have tugged at heartstrings, but to Trump, it struck a nerve.
Trump’s Blunt Response: ‘A Real Loser!’
Within hours, Trump fired back with a trademark Truth Social takedown:
“I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov of THE FIVE. A real loser!!! DJT”
But this wasn’t the first time Tarlov landed in his crosshairs.
Earlier this year, Trump described her as “wacky,” “jittery,” and “absolutely terrible.” He criticized her for spouting “knowingly wrong” facts and said her voice was “grating and unendurable.”
“Her facts are knowingly wrong, her jittery presentation is horrendous and, forgive me, her VOICE is grating and unendurable,” he wrote in a previous post.
“I find her impossible to take in large doses… It is important to expose Fake News, & Fake People!”
Trump Supporters Say She’s Hurting Fox
Tarlov remains the lone liberal voice on The Five, a show known for its conservative roundtable and massive ratings. While her defenders say she offers necessary balance, many Trump loyalists believe she’s harming the very brand that gave her a platform.
“People like Jessica Tarlov make MAGA absolutely hate Fox!” Trump once warned.
The Five remains a ratings powerhouse, but Tarlov’s presence continues to divide its loyal audience. Her academic resume may impress some, but it hasn’t shielded her from criticism, especially from Trump himself.
Former President Donald Trump has reignited his feud with Fox News personality Jessica Tarlov, unleashing a sharp rebuke on Truth Social that has once again thrown the cable network’s most popular talk show into the political spotlight.
On Tuesday night, Trump posted in all caps:
“I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov of THE FIVE. A real loser!!!”
The attack came just hours after an emotional broadcast in which Tarlov advocated for tighter gun control laws following a deadly stabbing spree in New York City that left four people dead. While the segment touched viewers and drew sympathy from many, it also sparked controversy — particularly among Trump supporters, who accused her of politicizing tragedy.
The Segment That Lit the Fuse
During Tuesday’s edition of The Five, Tarlov grew visibly shaken while discussing the New York stabbing spree, connecting it to broader issues of violence and gun access. She questioned how an individual with a criminal record was able to obtain a concealed carry license in Nevada and argued that stronger national laws could have prevented bloodshed.
“If you stopped this one, we’d have four people alive today,” she declared tearfully, calling for the reinstatement of the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
The clip quickly went viral, with liberals praising her passion and critics blasting her for conflating a knife attack with gun control. For Trump, however, the remarks were another opportunity to brand her as unfit for television.
Trump’s Swift and Harsh Response
Within hours, Trump weighed in with the now-infamous post. His remarks were short, but in typical Trump fashion, deeply cutting:
“I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov of THE FIVE. A real loser!!! DJT”
It was hardly the first time Trump has taken aim at Tarlov. Earlier this year, he described her as “wacky,” “jittery,” and “absolutely terrible.” In another post, he went further, attacking not only her arguments but her voice and mannerisms.
“Her facts are knowingly wrong, her jittery presentation is horrendous and, forgive me, her VOICE is grating and unendurable,” Trump wrote in a February Truth Social rant. “I find her impossible to take in large doses… It is important to expose Fake News, & Fake People!”
Trump’s tone underscores a long-standing grievance with Fox News and its occasional liberal contributors, whom he accuses of undermining conservative messaging.
Tarlov: Fox News’ Lone Liberal
Jessica Tarlov, 40, has carved out a unique role on The Five, where she serves as the sole liberal voice on a panel otherwise dominated by conservative commentators such as Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, and Jeanine Pirro.
Her presence is meant to provide ideological balance, but it often makes her the lightning rod of debate. While some Fox News executives consider her participation crucial to the show’s credibility and ratings, Trump and many of his supporters argue that her commentary alienates the network’s core audience.
“People like Jessica Tarlov make MAGA absolutely hate Fox!” Trump warned in a previous post.
The criticism highlights the delicate balancing act Fox faces: keeping its conservative base engaged while maintaining a veneer of fairness and debate.
Supporters Defend Her Role
Despite the criticism, Tarlov has her defenders. Liberal commentators argue that her presence on The Five is vital, giving viewers a perspective they might otherwise never encounter. They say her ability to hold her ground in heated exchanges demonstrates both resilience and the importance of diverse voices in political media.
“Jessica brings a perspective that challenges the groupthink,” one Democratic strategist told Politico. “She’s doing exactly what Fox says it wants — balance.”
Viewers who sympathized with her during Tuesday’s segment also praised her authenticity. “It was raw, it was real,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Not everything has to be a polished soundbite.”
MAGA World Reacts
Trump’s post predictably set off a flurry of responses from his supporters. On pro-Trump forums and social media accounts, users cheered his bluntness and demanded Fox fire Tarlov.
“She’s the reason I turned off The Five,” one commenter wrote. “Why is Fox giving her a platform?”
Others echoed Trump’s sentiment, claiming her policy positions were “fake news talking points” meant to smear conservatives. A handful of critics, however, questioned whether Trump’s focus on a cable news commentator was worthy of presidential attention, particularly as the 2024 election heats up.
A History of Trump vs. Fox
The dust-up is part of a broader saga between Trump and Fox News, once considered his most loyal media ally. Over the years, Trump has oscillated between praising the network and denouncing it as “disloyal” whenever it aired coverage he disliked.
In 2020, he famously raged against Fox’s early call of Arizona for Joe Biden on election night, an episode that still shapes his relationship with the network. Since then, he has elevated rivals like Newsmax and One America News while continuing to spar with Fox personalities.
His attacks on Tarlov fit into that larger pattern — singling out individuals he views as symbols of the network’s drift away from pure Trump loyalty.
The Five: Ratings Gold, but Divisive
Ironically, the very conflict may be fueling Fox News’ success. The Five has consistently ranked as one of the most-watched shows on cable news, regularly beating out CNN and MSNBC in the same timeslot. The show’s formula — four conservatives and one liberal locked in fiery debate — has proven to be ratings gold.
But the format also guarantees friction. Tarlov’s clashes with her co-hosts, especially Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld, often go viral, generating buzz far beyond Fox’s typical viewership. For Fox executives, the controversy may be less a liability than a calculated feature.
What Comes Next
Neither Fox News nor Jessica Tarlov has officially responded to Trump’s latest comments. Historically, Tarlov has avoided engaging directly with Trump’s insults, preferring to focus on policy arguments during her on-air segments.
Still, the timing of Trump’s attack is notable. With the 2024 presidential race entering full swing, every public spat becomes fodder for political narratives. Trump’s decision to highlight Tarlov suggests he sees value in rallying his base against not just Democrats, but also the media institutions that give them airtime.
Conclusion
Trump’s latest broadside against Jessica Tarlov is more than just another feud between a politician and a pundit. It underscores the increasingly fraught relationship between Trump and Fox News, the network that helped propel him to national prominence.
For Trump supporters, the clash validates their belief that Fox has drifted from its conservative roots. For Tarlov’s defenders, it highlights the importance of having dissenting voices on one of America’s most influential platforms.
One thing is clear: as long as Jessica Tarlov remains on The Five, she will continue to be both a symbol of Fox News’ balancing act and a favorite target for Donald Trump’s unfiltered rhetoric.
And with Trump once again making headlines with just a few words — “A real loser!!!” — the cycle of outrage, reaction, and debate shows no signs of slowing down.
