President Donald Trump has continued his trend of appointing former Fox News hosts and contributors to significant positions in his administration, with the latest appointment being Jeanine Pirro, whom Trump selected this week to serve as the top prosecutor in the District of Columbia.
Pirro’s appointment adds to a growing list of Fox News personalities who have received high-profile positions within the president’s government, a move that highlights the influence the conservative cable network has over Trump’s political decisions.
Pirro’s appointment marks one of more than a dozen former Fox employees or contributors who have supported Trump on-air and been rewarded with key roles in his second-term administration.
This trend suggests that Trump closely monitors what is said about him on Fox News, favoring individuals who are both compelling television personalities and loyal to his agenda.
Jeanine Pirro, a former judge and prosecutor, has been a prominent voice on Fox News for the past 15 years, gaining fame as one of the network’s most staunchly conservative commentators.
As a former district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and a co-host of Fox’s top-rated program “The Five,” Pirro’s hard-hitting commentary has earned her Trump’s admiration.
Over the years, Pirro has made no secret of her support for the president, regularly praising his policies and attacking his critics on-air.
Despite her strong connection to the president, Pirro has faced controversy for some of her more inflammatory remarks. In 2019, she faced public backlash after questioning the loyalty of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to the United States, which led Fox News to suspend her for a period.
Trump, however, swiftly defended Pirro, demanding that the network bring her back quickly.
Now appointed as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Pirro is expected to take a strong stance on crime and “clean up” Washington, D.C., according to Trump.
In his Truth Social post announcing her appointment, Trump described Pirro as “incredibly well qualified” and one of the top district attorneys in New York state’s history, adding, “She is in a class by herself.”
Pirro’s appointment is part of a broader trend of Fox News personalities joining Trump’s administration. Pete Hegseth, a former weekend host on Fox News and a combat veteran, was appointed as the Secretary of Defense.
Known for his vocal criticism of “wokeness” in the military and his support of Trump’s “America First” policies, Hegseth was a popular figure among conservative audiences.
Despite facing allegations of heavy drinking and mistreatment of women, which he has denied, Trump continued to back Hegseth through his Senate confirmation battle.
Another Fox personality turned Trump appointee is Sean Duffy, a former congressman from Wisconsin, who was named Secretary of Transportation. Duffy, who also worked as a Fox contributor, came to Trump’s attention through his show on Fox Business.
As Transportation Secretary, Duffy has overseen a department facing major concerns about air traffic control problems and passenger safety.
Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, made a surprising pivot toward the right during her 2020 presidential campaign and subsequently became a Fox News contributor.
Gabbard’s shift earned her a prominent role in Trump’s administration, as she was appointed Director of National Intelligence. Known for defending Trump from negative headlines and criticizing her former party, Gabbard has now taken on the responsibility of overseeing U.S. intelligence efforts, particularly focusing on cracking down on intelligence leaks and pushing back against “politically motivated” leaks.
Gabbard’s position reflects Trump’s broader appeal to conservative figures who previously identified with other political factions.
Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and a staunch conservative media figure, was also appointed by Trump to play a key role in the administration. Bongino, who was previously a host on Fox News, has been a vocal critic of the so-called “deep state” in the federal government and has regularly railed against the DOJ and FBI for what he believes is their political interference in Trump’s affairs.
Appointed as the second in command at the FBI under Director Kash Patel, Bongino’s position further underscores Trump’s efforts to align his administration with figures who are highly critical of the government institutions they oversee.
Trump’s administration has also tapped Tom Homan, a hard-line immigration official, to serve as the border czar. A former contributor at Fox News, Homan has been an outspoken advocate for Trump’s aggressive immigration policies.
Known for his tough stance on immigration enforcement, Homan has made controversial statements about deporting families together and reopening the Alcatraz prison to house detained immigrants. His position highlights Trump’s commitment to strengthening border security and curbing illegal immigration.
Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump and the daughter-in-law of the president, is another example of the close ties between Fox News and Trump’s administration.
Although she is not formally in the administration, Lara Trump has played a significant role in amplifying the Trump family’s political message. After joining Fox News as a contributor, she left the network to join the Republican National Committee as co-chair.
Lara Trump later secured a prime-time weekend show on Fox News, further solidifying her connection to both the network and the president’s family. Trump has publicly supported her show and praised her contributions to his campaign, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between Trump World and Fox News.
The appointments of Jeanine Pirro, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Sean Duffy, and other former Fox News personalities to key roles in Trump’s administration exemplify the growing influence of conservative media figures in U.S. governance.
These appointments raise important questions about the role of television personalities in shaping policy decisions and about the increasing overlap between media and politics in the Trump era.
As more former Fox contributors join the administration, it is clear that Trump values loyalty to his agenda, as well as the ability to project his message effectively to the public.
While these appointments have sparked concerns among critics who view them as a politicization of key government functions, Trump’s supporters argue that his allies’ media experience makes them uniquely qualified to push forward his policies.
The growing presence of Fox News personalities in government positions raises important questions about the future of American governance and the role media figures will continue to play in shaping national policy.
