'Literally not a soul': Critics say Fox News is humiliating Trump with empty fair footage

Fox News was subjected to ridicule Thursday by critics who say the network inadvertently embarrassed President Donald Trump with its coverage of the virtually empty Great American State Fair.

The Trump-friendly network provided real-time footage of the near-empty National Mall event, plagued by sweltering heat, severe storms, power outages, mechanical malfunctions and poor attendance, as critics were quick to point out.

"INCREDIBLE SCENES ON FOX as there is LITERALLY NOT A SOUL at Trump's fair, which has now been open for 15 minutes," reported journalist Aaron Rupar.

Rupar's post included a video clip of the empty expanse of grass behind anchors Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino.

Other social media users piled on.

"On a summer day at 10AM when the Air & Space Museum or the Natural History Museum opens, there are hundreds of people outside waiting to get in," noted writer and researcher Jim Stewartson. "To empty out the Mall this thoroughly is only possible by enclosing it and putting armed guards at the entrance."

"Maybe they got raptured. Have you ever considered THAT?" quipped Friendly Atheist blogger Hemant Mehta.

"The best part is someone very carefully designed this Fox temporary studio to frame a magnificent backdrop of the teeming masses of people celebrating," pointed out popular Bluesky user darth. "Someone spent more time setting up this one view than the entire Trump administration spent setting up the whole fair."

"The fair grounds look like a prison yard with grass," observed Bluesky user bfriedman.

"You know who is watching Fox News 15 hours a day? Not very pleased," speculated literary agent Mitch Solomon.

"I don't think I saw any marketing materials for the fair at any point," noted Paul E. Williams of the Center for Public Enterprise. "I knew it was happening because I read the news, but I don't recall seeing any advertisements telling me to come."

"It is difficult to believe now, but there are people who produce commentary for a living who argued mere weeks ago that Biden or Harris would have done," marveled Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute.