President Donald Trump is suffering a humiliating blow at the hands of one of his most dependable media supporters, as Fox News reduces its coverage of his campaign rallies while its viewership falls ahead of next week's midterm elections.
According to a new CNN analysis, the network, which once broadcast Trump's speeches in full, no longer does so routinely. It is a significant about-face for a channel that had long regarded his appearances as must-see television.
The change comes as new Nielsen figures show that Fox lost 27 percent of its total-day audience in October compared with the same month last year, averaging 1.1 million viewers.
The number of adults aged 25 to 54 watching the channel, the group that advertisers value most, fell by 32 percent to just 98,000. That is the network's lowest figure in the age group in 25 years.
Brian Stelter, CNN's chief media analyst, suggested the decline could indicate something more troubling for Trump than a typical fall in television ratings.
Speaking on CNN Wednesday, Stelter pointed to growing disappointment among some of the president's supporters over his handling of issues including the Epstein files, the war in Iran and gasoline prices.
He suggested that dissatisfaction was beginning to show up in Fox's audience figures, with some conservative viewers apparently choosing to tune out rather than follow the latest political developments.
Stelter also drew attention to Fox's treatment of Trump's rallies. The network once showed these events as major television attractions, but now generally limits its coverage to selected moments.
That marks a noticeable departure from previous election campaigns, when Trump could rely on the channel to broadcast lengthy speeches to an audience of conservative voters.
The president has already complained about the reduced coverage, accusing Fox of neglecting his rallies and giving too much airtime to Democratic candidates.
He has also encouraged supporters to watch Right Side Broadcasting Network instead, while criticizing Fox for interviewing Democrats seeking seats in Congress.
Stelter highlighted another unusual development, pointing out that Fox has been interviewing more Democratic Senate and gubernatorial candidates. He suggested the network might be trying to reach viewers beyond Trump's traditional Republican base.
MS NOW saw a 16 percent increase in total-day viewers compared with October 2025, while CNN recorded a 3 percent rise.
Fox's weekday prime-time audience fell by 28 percent to around 2 million viewers, although the network remains the most-watched cable news channel, attracting more viewers than CNN and MS NOW combined.
The timing of the losses is particularly uncomfortable for Republicans. Political coverage typically attracts greater attention before major elections, but Fox is experiencing the opposite trend.
Stelter suggested that the unusual decline could offer an early indication of dissatisfaction among conservative viewers ahead of the November 3 vote.