Tensions reached a boiling point on the set of Fox & Friends as co-hosts engaged in a fiery, on-air clash over President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff policies. What began as a discussion about the impact of tariffs on American businesses quickly spiraled into an explosive confrontation that left the hosts visibly divided. The debate, which included sharp exchanges between Steve Doocy, Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade, exposed deep fractures in the network’s approach to the Trump administration’s economic policies.

The conflict was ignited by a story about a small business owner in Idaho, Casey Ames, who claimed that his yearly tariff bill had skyrocketed from $26,000 to a staggering $346,000 after Trump’s tariff increases took effect. Doocy, visibly frustrated, argued that these tariff hikes were causing immense harm to small businesses like Ames’s, who couldn’t afford such exorbitant increases.

Doocy’s Bold Claims: A Battle Over Economic Impact

Steve Doocy, the usually calm and collected co-host, dramatically declared that Republican donors were “terrified” due to the economic implications of the tariffs. He painted a grim picture for small business owners, pointing to the personal toll it was taking on people like Ames. Doocy lamented, “That’s money he’s going to have to come out of his pocket,” emphasizing how many American business owners were being squeezed by Trump’s trade war.

However, the other hosts, including Lawrence Jones and Ainsley Earhardt, were quick to push back. Jones, often seen as a staunch Trump supporter, countered Doocy’s concerns by focusing on the long-term goals of the tariff policy. He argued that while the immediate effects were challenging, Trump’s aim was to secure a more equitable global trade system for the future.

“Trump is fighting for the little guy right now,” Jones declared, offering a more optimistic view of the economic strategy.

Earhardt Defends Trump’s Tough Stance

Ainsley Earhardt, who has publicly supported Trump’s policies, also took the president’s side during the heated exchange. “It may be challenging at times, but this is a moment of drastic, overdue change,” she asserted, defending the president’s decision to impose tariffs. Her remarks added fuel to the fire, as Doocy, unconvinced by her defense, shot back, emphasizing the immediate struggles of small businesses like Ames’s.

The ‘5-Second Rule’ Debate: A Battle of Perspectives

The tension heightened when Brian Kilmeade, one of Fox News‘ most experienced hosts, joined the fray. Kilmeade expressed a more pragmatic viewpoint, suggesting that the short-term pain of tariffs could be justified if it led to long-term benefits. “People won’t remember these two weeks if we can set up the next 20 years by reconfiguring trade and being smarter in the future,” he argued, downplaying the current economic challenges in favor of a broader vision.

However, Doocy was unsatisfied with this optimistic perspective. He pointed out that the tariff’s immediate effects were hitting consumers and businesses hard, and many were already feeling the financial strain. “The problem is, you know, like that guy in Idaho, he might have to go out of business,” Doocy said, highlighting the stark reality of the situation.

Growing Concern Over Economic Fallout

As the conversation unfolded, the discussion expanded beyond the Fox & Friends set. Other Fox News figures, including Maria Bartiromo, a well-respected business expert, expressed concern about the broader economic consequences. Bartiromo, in particular, reluctantly acknowledged the possibility of the U.S. being on the brink of a recession due to the tariffs.

Meanwhile, on The Five, Jesse Watters expressed his fears about the long-term economic effects, noting that the tariffs could lead to higher prices for American families, diminished exports, and lower business investment. “For all of President Trump’s talk of a new ‘golden age,’ this huge tax increase will inevitably result in higher prices for American families,” Watters warned.

His concerns echoed statements from critics who argued that the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930—considered a major cause of the Great Depression—could serve as a historical lesson about the dangers of escalating trade wars. Some commentators drew parallels between the current situation and that act, suggesting that the consequences of Trump’s tariffs could be equally damaging.

The Growing Divide: Internal Disarray at Fox News

The sharp disagreements among Fox & Friends hosts about Trump’s tariffs reflect a growing divide within the network. While the conservative establishment largely supports the president’s policies, there’s increasing anxiety about the long-term economic fallout, especially as small businesses begin to feel the strain.

This internal conflict also highlights the tension between maintaining loyalty to Trump’s policies and addressing the real-world consequences that many Americans are facing. With political divides becoming more entrenched, Fox News is increasingly caught in the middle of a broader ideological battle over the future of American trade policy.

As he spoke, the Dow and S&P were both still tanking following days of losses – during which Fox News faced criticism for removing its trademark stock market ticker on a day when the market dropped drastically.

Before bringing up China’s widely anticipated tariffs that have been issued in retaliation, Doocy highlighted a story from the New York Post detailing the struggles of a small business owner whose livelihood is being threatened by tariffs, 34-year-old toy importer Casey Ames

Doocy explained: ‘He’s been paying a tariff because he gets stuff from China, $26,000 a year. ‘His tariff bill went from $26,000 at midnight to $346,000,’ the early morning news co-anchor went on. ‘That’s money he’s gonna… [it’ll] have to come out of his pocket’

Unlike Doocy, he painted the pushback as primarily coming from ‘the elites’, whom he insisted ‘have gotten used to a certain lifestyle and what we were invested in the market and all that.

‘But he’s [Trump] fighting for though the little guy right now,’ Jones, 32, concluded.

Ainsley Earhardt, another Fox & Friends host who is engaged to Sean Hannity, chose to stand by Trump as well.

‘It may be challenging at times,’ Earhardt, 48, argued. ‘[This is] a moment of drastic, overdue change.’

An unconvinced Doocy, frustrated they had not heard his point, shot back: ‘Well, the problem is, you know, like that guy in Idaho, he might have to go out of business.’

Brian Kilmeade, one of Fox News’s longest-serving talkers, at this point interjected to also disagree with Doocy.

‘I think that people are not going to be remembering these 2 weeks if we can set up the next 20 years by reconfiguring trade and being smarter in the future,’ he proclaimed, days after Mike Johnson said the House will provide Trump with ‘space’ to carry out his ambitious, polarizing plan.

The statement was given as he left the House floor Tuesday, amid pronounced losses on Wall Street and frustration toward the president.

The other hosts all appeared to disagree, choosing to stand by Trump as his policies continue to put Republicans to the test

On Tuesday, one of Fox News ‘ most respected business experts, Maria Bartiromo, reluctantly conceded the country could be on the cusp of a recession

‘I’m afraid,’ Jesse Watters said on the set of The Five Monday, while still promoting the idea that the tariffs will come at the expense of other countries

Stars on Fox News, once one of the conservative’s kindest critics, have since begun to question Trump’s policies for the first time.

‘I’m afraid,’ Jesse Watters said on the set of The Five Monday, while still promoting the idea that the tariffs will come at the expense of other countries.

‘For all of President Trump’s talk of a new “golden age,” this huge tax increase will inevitably result in higher prices for American families, lower growth and business investment, and diminished exports and manufacturing output as the country’s factories face retaliation abroad and costlier inputs (roughly half of all imports) at home,’ they said in a statement after Trump announced the tariffs.

“With today’s announcement, US tariffs will approach levels not seen since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930,’ it added.

The act ‘incited a global trade war and deepened the Great Depression,’ both agreed.

Conclusion: Will Fox News’ Conservative Stance Hold Amid Rising Doubts?

The fiery clash on Fox & Friends over Trump’s tariffs illustrates the complexities of economic policies and their direct impact on American businesses. While Trump’s base continues to rally behind his trade agenda, the reality of its consequences—particularly on small businesses—has created a rift within conservative circles.

The division among the Fox & Friends hosts highlights a larger, ongoing debate about how to balance economic protectionism with the needs of American families and businesses. With critics like Doocy expressing concern and supporters like Jones and Earhardt defending the president’s strategy, the question remains: will Fox News remain a steadfast supporter of Trump’s tariffs, or will internal dissent lead to a reassessment of their stance?

As the economic effects of these policies continue to unfold, Fox News faces a crucial moment in its coverage of Trump’s trade agenda. Whether the network will remain unified or fracture over differing perspectives on the tariffs is something only time will tell, but one thing is clear—this debate is far from over.