Fox News said that a startling on-screen banner branding President Biden a “wannabe dictator” following Donald Trump’s Tuesday arraignment “was addressed”—though the network didn’t make clear what exactly that means. The on-screen message, known as a chyron, read “Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested,” as footage of Biden and Trump both speaking after the arraignment played side by side. In a terse statement to media outlets, Fox News said that message “was taken down immediately and was addressed.” The message appeared for 27 seconds during primetime, as Fox News Tonight drew to a close and Hannity started up. Its characterization of Biden as a dictator struck some critics as a startling move, even for the conventionally MAGA-friendly network.
I wrote Fox News last night asking for comment on it airing an alert last night calling president Biden a "wannabe dictator." The company just responded with the following statement and zero additional explanation:
