Topline

Known as one of Donald Trump’s fiercest of allies, Fox News’ Sean Hannity reportedly took his loyalty a step further when he scripted a campaign ad for the former president last year.  

Key Facts

The detail is part of reporting included in a new book from the Wall Street Journal’s Michael Bender on the 2020 election entitled “Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost,” according to an excerpt first reported by Punchbowl News.

Hannity wrote the ad during the final weeks of the campaign and the Trump campaign paid $1.5 million for the spot to air on his show, Bender reports. 

The Fox News host denied the claim, but Bender obtained campaign emails which show aides referring to an ad as the “Hannity-written” spot.

The ad labeled Biden a “forty-seven-year swamp creature” who had “accomplished nothing” and was pushing a “radical, socialist Green New Deal.”

Trump, in an interview with Bender for the book, did not deny the allegation that Hannity wrote the ad.

Forbes has reached out to Fox News for comment.

Crucial Quote

“The world knows that Sean Hannity supports Donald Trump,” Hannity told Bender in a statement. “But my involvement specifically in the campaign — no. I was not involved that much. Anybody who said that is full of shit.”

Surprising Fact

According to Bender, the ad was “mercilessly mocked for its muddled messaging and incendiary language” among people inside the Trump campaign. 

Key Background

This would not have been the first time Hannity blurred the line between network host and Trump campaign surrogate. In 2016, Hannity appeared in a Trump campaign ad and in 2018, the Fox News host joined the former president onstage at a rally. Both moves drew condemnation from Fox News brass. 

Further Reading

Fox’s Hannity speaks onstage at Trump campaign rally (Associated Press)