NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images Fox News host Sean Hannity is seen in the White House briefing room in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2017.
President Donald Trump spent Thursday morning with a series of tweets about Fox News host Sean Hannity and Ed Gillespie, a Republican running for governor of Virginia.
Trump also expressed support for preserving the “statues/heritage” of the state of Virginia and criticized Gillespie’s opponent, Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, for not showing up to “meetings/work.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Trump Praised Fox News Host Sean Hannity
Fox News With Hannity’s Help Regains Its Ratings Dominance By Peter Barry Chowka at The Hagmann report t.co/ICDMCZregu
President Trump retweeted a tweet from Peter Chowka, who wrote about Fox News ratings in the Hagmann Report.
The Fox News Channel has restored its ratings dominance in prime time in the wake of the latest shake-up in its schedule four weeks ago. On Monday, September 25, Sean Hannity moved his nightly show from 10 to 9 P.M. E.T. to challenge MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. That has proven to be a major ratings success. On Monday, October 30, Laura Ingraham and Shannon Bream will complete the channel’s reconfiguration of prime time when they start their new shows at 10 and 11 P.M., respectively.
The Hagmann Report is also on BlogTalkRadio, where it says its show provides “listeners information about current events and historical topics that transcend the political right-left paradigm and delve into the real issues behind the sugar-coated news.”
Run by a “father-son detective duo,” the Hagmann Report “uses their investigative abilities and resources to aggressively research and report on issues left untouched by the corporate media and those that exist beyond the scope of the non-traditional media. The show addresses many issues once considered mere fodder for ‘conspiracy theorists,’ tracing their roots from the various events that created them through the fabric of history to the present day.”
Trump also tweeted about Hannity’s upcoming film, “Let There Be Light.” Hannity is executive producer for the faith-based drama featuring actor Kevin Sorbo, of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” fame.
Will be another Sean success! t.co/SlNTENvJLA
According to the Washington Examiner, the movie cost $3 million.
Hannity told the Washington Times that Hollywood is falling short when it comes to inspiring moviegoers.
“I think [the studios’] formula … is stale and does nothing to make you think,” Mr. Hannity said. “It does nothing to inspire. It does nothing to move you emotionally.”
“Let There Be Light” opens in theaters today.
Trump also retweeted a Hannity tweet about Hillary Clinton.
Trump Tweeted Support for Ed Gillespie, Who Is Running for Governor of Virginia
Ed Gillespie will turn the really bad Virginia economy #’s around, and fast. Strong on crime, he might even save our great statues/heritage!
At 10:07 a.m. Eastern time, President Trump tweeted about Ed Gillespie, a Republican running for governor of Virginia. “Ed Gillespie will turn the really bad Virginia economy #’s around, and fast. Strong on crime, he might even save our great statues/heritage!” Trump tweeted.
Ed Gillespie will be a great Governor of Virginia. His opponent doesn’t even show up to meetings/work, and will be VERY weak on crime!
He also took a jab at Gillespie’s opponent, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat serving alongside Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is not able to run for re-election because of term limits.
“Ed Gillespie will be a great Governor of Virginia. His opponent doesn’t even show up to meetings/work, and will be VERY weak on crime!” Trump tweeted.
Northam responded on Twitter:
The latest RealClearPolitics average of polls has Northam ahead of Gillespie by 3.9 percentage points.
Trump Tweeted About Unity Within the Republican Party After Meeting With GOP Senators on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 24: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump arrive for the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol.
After publicly sparring with Republican Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker or Tennessee, Trump tweeted at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time about the sense of unity within the GOP. Trump met with Republican senators at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to talk about his plan for tax reform.
“Do not underestimate the UNITY within the Republican Party!” Trump tweeted.
Do not underestimate the UNITY within the Republican Party!
Trump Also Tweeted About the Opioid Crisis in America
Effective today, my administration officially declared the #OpioidCrisis a NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY under federal law.
WORKING TOGETHER, we will defeat this #OpioidEpidemic & free our nation from the terrible affliction of drug abuse. t.co/iAZjqGMwav
President Trump spoke in the East Room at the White House on Thursday to declare a nationwide public emergency to put a halt to the opioid crisis in the country. Trump spoke about his brother, Fred Trump, who died at age 43 after a battle with alcohol addiction.
“I learned, myself — I had a brother, Fred — great guy, best-looking guy, best personality — much better than mine. But he had a problem. He had a problem with alcohol, and he would tell me, “Don’t drink. Don’t drink.” He was substantially older, and I listened to him and I respected, but he would constantly tell me, don’t drink. He’d also add, don’t smoke. But he would say it over and over and over again,” Trump said.
“And to this day, I’ve never had a drink. And I have no longing for it. I have no interest in it. To this day, I’ve never had a cigarette. Don’t worry, those are only two of my good things. I don’t want to tell you about the bad things. There’s plenty of bad things too,” he said.
“But he really helped me. I had somebody that guided me, and he had a very, very, very tough life because of alcohol — believe me, very, very tough, tough life. He was a strong guy, but it was a tough, tough thing that he was going through. But I learned because of Fred. I learned.”
