Why did Mr. Trump choose two ministers from Fox News in a row?

Mr. Duffy is also a former congressman and prosecutor, a Fox News contributor and co-host of the Fox Business Network evening show “The Bottom Line.” His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, co-hosts “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

Mr Trump’s selection of Mr Duffy, 53, is the second time the president-elect has searched Fox News’ talent pool for a new administration hire. Mr Duffy has criticized current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on his shows, on a range of issues including the troubled state of the airline industry.

Following the announcement, Fox News praised Mr. Duffy for “providing valuable insights and analysis” to the channel during his tenure.

Less than a week ago, Mr. Trump announced that Pete Hegseth, a former member of the Army National Guard and co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” would be his pick for secretary of defense.

Audition stage

"I think it's also important to remember that developer Donald Trump was once the center of national attention as a reality TV star," said NPR Media contributor David Folkenflik, who has been covering Trump's relationship with Fox for years.

According to Folkenflik, Mr. Trump may view the process of recruiting personnel for the new administration as akin to casting a TV show, and the nominees must be talented. “And I think the main aspect of their talent here is their willingness to put loyalty first.” And Mr. Trump’s views are also said to be quite similar to Fox News.

In addition to the two hosts, several other Fox-linked figures have been picked for the cabinet. Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for director of national intelligence, was a former Democratic congresswoman who became a regular commentator on Fox. Tom Homan, the nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, was also a commentator. Mike Huckabee, the nominee to be ambassador to Israel, had his own show on Fox for a time after his unsuccessful 2012 bid for the White House. Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican who regularly appears on Fox and cable, was picked as national security adviser.

And there's also a group of guests who have become familiar faces to Fox viewers. "Fox is like an audition stage," Folkenflik says.

Mr. Trump’s first term also featured many Fox stars, with names like Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo, Tucker Carlson. According to Folkenflik, Fox founder Rupert Murdoch had an alliance with Mr. Trump during his first term, and he is doing it again.

Sean Duffy (left) - currently under consideration for the position of transportation secretary, and Mr. Trump in a meeting.

The age of TV stars?

Other hopefuls for administration posts appear to be taking a similar path to get ahead, according to Politico. CNBC ’s morning business show “Squawk Box” has become a regular stop for Wall Street figures and former Trump 1.0 members who are reportedly vying for Treasury secretary and other key economic posts.

The show allows them to showcase their media skills to an influential audience, including Mr Trump, who this week praised co-host Joe Kernen on Truth Social.

“A lot of the people he picked had media experience, media exposure — that was obviously very important to him,” said John Bolton, the former national security adviser in the Trump 1.0 administration, who became national security adviser after more than 10 years as a Fox News contributor.

“But that doesn't guarantee things will go smoothly,” he added.

The rise of cable news stars highlights the influence of the medium in Mr. Trump’s second administration. Although networks face stiff competition from media startups popular with younger viewers, cable appears to remain king for Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump in a question and answer program hosted by Fox News.

The president-elect and his transition advisers are reviewing the candidates from a room at Mar-a-Lago equipped with a television, allowing him to watch media clips and candidate biographies on a screen, according to Politico’s unnamed source.

No network has ever been more influential than Fox News, the conservative television giant with which Mr. Trump has sometimes clashed but which still hosts many of his top media allies. Mr. Trump regularly watched and posted about Fox News during his first term, giving the program special clout in the White House. Mr. Bolton said Mr. Trump used to “constantly watch Fox” in the dining room off the Oval Office.

Looking back, Waltz, the national security adviser nominee, while less controversial, has appeared at least 176 times on weekdays on Fox News from the start of 2023 until Election Day. Attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz has appeared on the network more than 300 times since 2017, a recent decline.

Phuong Anh (Source: NPR, Politico)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tai-sao-ong-trump-chon-lien-tiep-2-bo-truong-tu-fox-news-ar908251.html