Lara Trump Launches "My View" on Fox News, Prioritizing Family Over Senate Aspirations
Lara Trump, formerly co-chair of the Republican National Committee, has officially returned to Fox News Channel, debuting her own Saturday night opinion show titled "My View with Lara Trump" on February 22nd. This new venture signals a strategic shift in her career, as she opted to host the program instead of pursuing a potential cabinet position in her father-in-law, President Donald Trump’s, second term or a chance to run for the United States Senate. Her decision marks a historical moment, making her the first family member of a sitting president to actively host a television program.
The show, airing at 9 p.m. ET, is positioned as a platform for delivering a unique perspective on current events and political discourse. Lara Trump, married to President Trump’s son Eric, and mother to two young children, Luke and Carolina, aims to bring a new level of transparency to the news landscape.
“The show is to really bring another level of transparency to things that I don’t know that we’ve ever had,” Trump stated in an interview with USA TODAY. She further emphasizes her belief in the Trump administration’s commitment to openness, stating, “You know, you look at Donald Trump. I think people would be hard pressed to find a more transparent candidate and administration than we currently have right now."
Known for venturing into new terrain for conservatives, such as her notable appearance on "The Breakfast Club," Trump has expressed her intention to invite Democrats onto "My View," with the possibility of interviewing the president himself. She hopes to foster a more inclusive discussion, bringing diverse perspectives to the forefront.
However, the announcement of her hiring by Fox News was met with some criticism. The Daily Beast accused her of attempting to portray her father-in-law as "pro-feminist" after showcasing female Trump administration officials such as Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, and Karoline Leavitt. The New Yorker even labeled her "The New Trump-Family Megaphone."
Trump, however, dismisses the negative feedback. “Oh, you mean someone would criticize something that a Trump did?” she retorted. “Of course there will be critics, of course there will be people who say that,” she added, referring to the "megaphone" headline, and clarifies that it’s “not the intent of the show."
Despite the naysayers, Lara Trump has a clear vision for "My View," and the show appears to be off to a promising start. Amidst talent reshuffling at left-leaning news networks like MSNBC and CNN, with some of President Trump’s vocal critics facing reduced airtime, "My View" garnered the most viewers of any cable program during its opening weekend, according to Nielsen ratings, demonstrating a significant initial audience reach.
Notably, the show even surpassed ESPN college basketball viewership, drawing in 2.4 million viewers, exceeding expectations ahead of March Madness.
Trump shared that the president was highly complimentary of the debut episode. “He’s called me twice since the show to tell me what an amazing job he thought I did, how much he enjoyed the show and unfortunately, both times, I missed his call,” she revealed, jokingly explaining that her phone was dead or she was on a plane during his attempts to reach her.
“I’m really grateful, and I’m happy (President Trump) loved it,” she added. “Of course, he told me that the only way that I was going to get a huge audience is if I had him on and so I think that — I don’t want to say I’ve proven him wrong. When he comes on, I guess the audience will be even bigger.”
While a formal date hasn’t been set, Trump indicated that she intends to feature her father-in-law on "My View" after his first 100 days in office. "I really wanted to establish myself in this position before having him on. So, you know, we’ll see. We don’t have anything officially planned,” she explained.
Lara Trump emphasizes that she aims to forge her own path on Fox News. “Trump decided to host her new Fox show to bring an extra layer of transparency and more information, not less information, to people out there."
“You know what side I’m on, you know for whom I voted, and you know that I obviously want to see this country succeed with my father-in-law as president, but I think anyone who tunes into the show regularly will very quickly learn that I’m simply trying to give more insights,” she adds.
When asked about potential dream guests, Trump expressed a desire to interview her entire family. “I actually would love to do an interview with my whole family, and I would love for people see because I don’t know that anyone’s ever done that, just the way we all interact I think is very cool,” she says. “And I think, you know, people love to write articles about this, that and the other. We all get along so well. I think the past eight years have made us all closer.”
In terms of reaching across the aisle, she mentioned moderate Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and late-night talk show host Bill Maher as ideal Democratic guests, highlighting her willingness to engage in civil discourse with diverse perspectives.
Addressing speculations about the show’s title being a jab at "The View," the ABC daytime talk show known for its critical stance on the president, Trump clarified, "Some took it as a swipe at The View, but mostly it’s because it is really what this show is all about. It’s my view on things and my perspective," adding that the name was chosen for its simplicity and straightforwardness.
Interestingly, Trump admitted that she "probably would have said yes" to co-hosting "The View" if offered the opportunity, while also stating that she had not received any such offer.
The decision to host "My View" led Trump to withdraw her name from consideration to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate representing Florida. She had also been considered as a potential Senate candidate in her home state of North Carolina in 2022.
She prioritizes her role as a mother, stating, "For me, being the mom of two young kids who are 5 and 7 right now, my kids need me. They want me around. That doesn’t last forever. There will come a point where they’re like, get away, mom. We don’t need you around here."
"With that in mind, this great opportunity at Fox came up and I said, you know, it just feels like this is the position that God is pushing me in. There’s a reason you don’t see a lot of moms of school aged children as United States Senators," she added, noting the challenges of balancing Senate duties with motherhood.
She concludes, "I actually hope that maybe we bring new people into the fold to tune into Fox because of this show because I do think you’re getting something that is different, that isn’t solely based on the frenzied 24-hour news cycle that we’re all used to," further articulating her vision for "My View."
"I think it’s hard sometimes to take a second to take a breath and really appreciate the people who are making the big changes right now. And that’s truly what I hope to highlight," Trump stated.
"My View" airs Saturday nights on Fox. The upcoming March 8th episode will feature prominent Republican figures like Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
