Donald Trump agrees to an interview with Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly
Donald Trump has agreed to appear on Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly’s prime time broadcast special on May 17.
It will be Kelly’s first sit down with the front runner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination since the real estate billionaire clashed with her at the first GOP primary debate. It has been nearly a year since she interviewed Trump, who has been a frequent guest on other Fox News Channel programs.
It’s not that Kelly hasn’t tried. But Trump declared war on FNC’s prime time star after the Republican primary debate on Aug. 6. During that event, Kelly pressed Trump on his history of making derogatory comments about women.
The candidate responded angrily in interviews he gave afterward and attacked Kelly on Twitter with harsh remarks about her journalistic abilities. While he has continued to appear on other Fox News programs, he skipped “The Kelly File” and the second GOP debate that aired on the channel before the Iowa caucuses. He did appear at a third Fox News debate, with Kelly as one of the moderators, held March 3 in Detroit.
In a statement, Fox News said Kelly’s interview “will explore how events unfolded with Trump after the August debate as one of the most prominent voices covering the 2016 presidential campaign of the frontrunner. She will also examine Trump’s successful campaign for the White House to date and his role in one of the most historic presidential runs in modern times. “
Trump’s campaign has vowed the candidate will behave in a more presidential manner as he gets closer to clinching the nomination. Behaving respectfully in a one-on-one interview with an anchor he deemed as his nemesis would certainly help on that front.
Kelly met with the candidate at his office in Trump Tower in Manhattan on April 13 to personally request the interview. Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, who is trying to keep Kelly from leaving his channel after her contract expires in 2017, reached out to Trump on her behalf as well.
Kelly, who anchors “The Kelly File” weeknights on Fox News, has become a breakout star on the cable news channel. The prime time special on Fox’s broadcasting network is aimed at widening her exposure beyond the FNC audience.
Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
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