Fox News apologized Sunday for broadcasting archival footage of President Donald Trump during its coverage of a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in the Middle East were returned Saturday. The network said a staff member inadvertently selected footage of Trump from an earlier ceremony, which aired on two Sunday morning telecasts in place of footage from the Saturday event. The archival footage showed Trump without the baseball cap he wore at Saturday’s ceremony, drawing scrutiny from critics who questioned whether the substitution was intentional. Fox News maintained the substitution was an honest mistake.
The error prompted condemnation from both inside and outside Fox News, touching a fault line between the solemn protocol of dignified transfer ceremonies — considered among the most sacred duties of a commander in chief — and questions about media accuracy in covering presidential conduct.
“We regret the error and apologize for the incorrect footage,” Fox News said in a statement. A network spokeswoman said the correct footage was used at other times, including during Saturday’s broadcast.
Fox News anchor Griff Jenkins issued an on-air correction Sunday. “We extend our respect and condolences” to the families of the fallen service members, Jenkins said.
Some online critics suggested without evidence that the substitution was intentional — that the network sought to show Trump in a more favorable light by omitting footage of the baseball cap. Fox News said the selection was inadvertent.
Johnny “Joey” Jones, a veteran and co-host of “The Big Weekend Show” on Fox News Channel, wrote on social media that he was “embarrassed and ashamed” by the error.
“My belief was that this was an honest mistake, but that doesn’t make it an acceptable one,” Jones wrote. “Few things are more sacred than our heroes who give their lives in the line of duty.”
Jones also pushed back at critics using the error to attack the network. “If posting snarky comments and insults is your way of reacting to this, please direct them at me. I’m the one with sharp words on these issues. If you are using this as a way to take a partisan jab at my hard working colleagues, check your watch.”
Mehdi Hasan, founder of the online publication Zeteo, said the network would have reacted more harshly had a competitor made the same mistake. “If any other network did this it would be a huge scandal, Fox would lead the chorus of criticisms and faux-outrage, and people would lose their jobs,” Hasan said.