CNN commentator Brian Stelter is writing a book that will deal with President Trump and Fox News—and the network’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
Simon and Schuster will publish Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth this summer. The publisher describes the book as the “urgent and untold story of the collusion between Fox News and Donald Trump.”
On a webpage for the book, Simon and Schuster highlights the book’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. “In January 2020, when Fox News began to downplay COVID-19, the President was quick to agree,” the publisher writes. “In March, as the deadly virus spiraled out of control, Sean Hannity mocked ‘coronavirus hysteria’ as a ‘new hoax’ from the left. Millions of Americans took Hannity and Trump's words as truth—until some of them started to get sick.”
The Hollywood Reporter says the book will focus heavily on Fox News host Sean Hannity, and will also cover Shepard Smith’s departure from the network in 2019.
Stelter explained the book’s title on Twitter, writing, “Why is my forthcoming book about Trump and Fox titled HOAX? The answer was in his call with ‘Fox Friends’ today—he used the word hoax 8 times. ‘Impeachment hoax.’ ‘Russia hoax.’ ‘Total hoax.’ It's a key part of his war on truth.”
Why is my forthcoming book about Trump and Fox titled HOAX?
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 8, 2020
The answer was in his call with "Fox Friends" today – he used the word hoax 8 times. "Impeachment hoax." "Russia hoax." "Total hoax."
It's a key part of his war on truth. Pre-order HOAX here: https://t.co/qTzVI2F1PW
Hoax is slated for publication on Aug. 25.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
