Fox News national refused to air a new ad from a political action committee that supports Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that showed him in his military uniform and holding a rifle, forcing the swapping out of two images for a sanitized version, according to the PAC, Never Back Down.
Never Back Down produced a 30-second ad titled "Warzone," which included an image of DeSantis holding a rifle in uniform, the photo taken in Iraq. DeSantis was a lieutenant in the Navy and served alongside SEAL Team 1 in Iraq in 2007.
To meet Fox's requirements, the image was replaced with a bust shot of DeSantis in uniform minus the weapon.
There was also footage 3 seconds into the ad of cartel members with guns and accompanying audio of gunfire that had to be replaced with firearm-free footage.
The ad opens with a voice-over calling our southern border a warzone, hence the title of the ad.
"The only candidate fighting to secure out our border now is the only candidate to serve in a warzone, Ron DeSantis."
Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Fox News of favorable coverage of DeSantis, in an effort to boost his candidacy, while shading his 2024 campaign.
Most recently, Trump took aim at Fox News and The Wall Street Journal in a post to Truth Social.
"The Wall Street Journal & Fox are damaged goods after their failed DeSanctimonious push & stupid $780,000,000 'settlement.' MORONS!!!"
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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