In a surprise move, Fox News Channel is giving President Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump her own program.
She will host a weekend show for Fox News, My View with Lara Trump, which will run Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. beginning Feb. 22.
“I’m thrilled to bring my voice back to Fox News, talk directly with the American people, and highlight what makes this country so great,” Trump said in a statement. “As I cover the success of The Golden Age of America, I look forward to where this time will lead our country and where this opportunity will lead me in the future.”
“A gifted communicator who knows how to connect to the viewers, successful entrepreneur and working mother, Lara’s innate understanding of the American public and today’s political landscape will be a compelling addition to our weekend lineup,” Fox News president Suzanne Scott said in a statement.
Fox will move One Nation with Brian Kilmeade from Saturday nights to Sundays at 10 p.m. in connection with Trump’s new show.
So, what can viewers expect on the new show? Fox says that My View “will focus on the return of common sense to all corners of American life as the country ushers in a new era of practicality. Every week, the program will feature big picture analysis and interviews with thought leaders, shedding light on the headlines driving the national conversation and affecting families around the country.”
President Trump, of course, is known to be an avid Fox News viewer, making the hire all the more notable. Rupert Murdoch, who founded the channel, was spotted in the Oval Office earlier this week.
As unusual as it is for a close relative of a sitting President to join a cable news channel as host, there is a long history of news outlets looking to the relatives of high-profile politicians when hiring for certain on-air roles.
Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, is one of the lead on-air hosts at NBC’s Today show, having joined the network in 2009 after he left office. NBC also had a deal with Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, while her mother was Secretary of State.
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain, was a co-host on ABC’s The View, as was Abby Huntsman, the daughter of former Utah Governor and U.S. ambassador Jon Huntsman. And MSNBC counts Alicia Menendez, the daughter of former Senator Robert Menendez, as one of its hosts.
But having family members on-air can also lead to internal conflicts. The most high-profile example is likely Chris Cuomo, the former CNN host and brother of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was fired from the cable channel after efforts to help his brother respond to sexual misconduct claims became public.