Trump praises ‘Fox & Friends’ for being named ‘most influential’ because he watches it

President Trump on Thursday praised “Fox & Friends” after a media website named it the “most influential” because he watches it.

“Was @foxandfriends just named the most influential show in news?” Trump tweeted. “You deserve it – three great people! The many Fake News Hate Shows should study your formula for success!”

Was @foxandfriends just named the most influential show in news? You deserve it – three great people! The many Fake News Hate Shows should study your formula for success!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2017

Mediaite named the show’s co-hosts, Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt, the “most influential in media” because they have captured and held Trump’s attention. 

“The President of the United States regularly starts his day watching Fox & Friends and then tweets about whatever they cover, and however, they cover it,” Mediaite writes. “He promotes their show, tags them by name, and sings their praises. That alone makes [them] three of the most influential media people not just in the United States, but in the entire world.”

Mediaite added that “the topics they cover essentially set the national agenda for the rest of the day.” 

“That is influence like few other media figures have ever enjoyed.”

{mosads}Trump regularly praises the Fox News show’s coverage, as well as other coverage from the network and Fox Business. Since taking office, he has sat down for more than a dozen interviews with the network, but has mostly avoided other outlets.

Jeff Zucker, the head of CNN, was named second most-influential on the Mediaite list. Trump has repeatedly feuded with CNN over negative coverage of his campaign and presidency.

“Of all President Donald Trump’s media targets, perhaps no outlet has endured more of his unbridled fury than CNN, the network helmed by Jeff Zucker,” Mediaite writes. “And Zucker has refused to back down from the fight.”