Sean Hannity had to beg Trump to end tirade against Fox News with shocking words weeks before lawsuit agreement

Sean Hannity allegedly begged President Donald Trump to stop attacking Fox News before the infamous Dominion lawsuit was settled.

Sean Hannity speaking with President Donald Trump at a town hall (Image: Getty)

Veteran Fox News star Sean Hannity reportedly had a word with President Donald Trump for bashing his network.

The conservative television presenter allegedly begged Trump to stop attacking Fox News in a phone call just weeks before it settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, according to a new book.

The lawsuit saw Dominion Voting Systems sue Fox News Channel and its corporate parent, Fox Corporation, for defamation, alleging several Fox programs had broadcast false statements that Dominion’s voting machines had been rigged to steal the 2020 United States presidential election from Trump. Dominion’s complaint sought US$1.6 billion in damages, but in the end, they settled for $787.5 million and an apology wasn’t required.

In early 2023, Trump decried “collusion” between “MAGA hating” Fox News and his then-chief political rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in a run of merciless attacks against the network and its chairman, Rupert Murdoch.

Ahead of the March 18 release of Alex Isenstadt’s book, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power, the Axios journalist explains how Hannity pleaded with the Republican to end his tirade against the conservative network in March 2023.

Trump settled settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 (Image: Getty)

“Please do not hit Fox, do not hit the Murdoch family. Just please, for the love of God, please don’t do it,” Hannity allegedly said, according to an excerpt of Isenstadt’s book obtained by the Washington Post.

“Mr. President, I’m trying to help you out here with the Fox people here,” he continued, adding, “But you’re not making it easy for me by going after the Murdochs.

“You’re not helping me. You’re not helping yourself. If you can just lay off, we can start making some moves and getting back to normal,” he concluded.

Holding up his phone so his staffers could hear, Trump reportedly replied: “Sean is trying to do the right thing. But, man, the Murdochs? I don’t know.”

“Susie, are you in the room?” Hannity then asked, referring to Susie Wiles, Trump’s then-campaign manager.

“Susie, can you talk to the president? For the love of God, can you talk to the president?” he allegedly begged.

According to a Fox News spokesperson, Wiles responded: “Well, Sean, President Trump is going to do what President Trump thinks is best and fair.” Hannity said that he could not recall speaking to Wiles during this conversation.

The exchange ended with Trump then calling Hannity a “good man” and putting down the phone, as per the excerpt.