Remember that Trump-Biden debate that was supposedly led by unbiased moderator Chris Wallace? The Fox News anchor revealed his true allegiance this week as he called President Joe Biden’s speech was the “best inaugural address I’ve ever heard.”
Noting he had listened to inauguration speeches since John F. Kennedy’s “Ask Not” address in 1961, he claimed Biden’s “part sermon, part pep talk” was even better. While we’re sure Biden’s speechwriter will be flattered, Wallace’s comments clearly show his obvious bias for Biden, something he and others claimed were not true just a few months ago.
The Wallace-moderated presidential debate was conducted as the first of just two opportunities between the two candidates. It was remembered mostly as a shouting match, with both Trump and Biden repeatedly talking over one another.
Those paying attention knew Wallace and Trump had been at battle well before the debate. Despite working at mostly Trump-friendly Fox News, Wallace blasted Trump during his first impeachment hearing and criticized the president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other issues.
While in office, Trump became a Wallace critic well ahead of the presidential debate, once calling him “nasty and obnoxious” on social media. The bias then unfolded in dramatic fashion during the Wallace-moderated debate, with several leading questions against then President Trump as he allowed Biden numerous follow up opportunities to state his views.
The January 20 inauguration only made Wallace’s role more glaring. After setting up Trump for a disaster and leading a mainstream mafia wave at Fox News against Trump’s re-election and questioning of the results, Wallace had the audacity to compare Biden’s opening day remarks to a sermon, calling Americans to unite despite difficult days.
Yet most Americans are aware President Biden is not sitting at his desk writing well-crafted metaphors for his next public speech. Most viewers are pleased if Biden can simply read the teleprompter without babbling nonsense.
But many are viewing these events as part of a larger Trump-Fox News breakup. On election night, the network called Arizona for Biden very early, while projecting him as the winner despite several states not knowing the recipient of their electoral votes until much later.
In contrast, conservative outlet Newsmax refrained from projecting a presidential winner even days after the election, recognizing a variety of issues with the election results. This and other failures by Fox News to strengthen its conservative perspective have led to the network losing its number-one viewership position, while Newsmax quadrupled its audience within the 30 days following the election.
Wallace’s turncoat attitude, along with the conservative slide at Fox News, has led many Americans to change the channel. As they do, they are reuniting on other networks like Newsmax, conservative online outlets such as OAN and Right Side Broadcasting, and emerging social networks to rebuild the true conservative voice of America.