A whole lot of commotion is going down at Fox News lately, and it looks like there will be some more turnover of sorts. Newt Gingrich, who’s been making himself at home as a Donald Trump VP shortlist candidate, has parted ways with the cable news network. He’s done so on a temporary and mutual basis, and CNN’s Brian Stelter first dropped a nugget on Twitter that hinted how the change will be “effective immediately.”
The full(er) story arrived soon after on CNN Money, which had more details. Certainly, a mutual split would indicate that Gingrich would be welcome back at some point. Could this break possibly be due to a temporary vacation otherwise known as a presidential campaign? If Gingrich was simply in the running for a cabinet position, he wouldn’t have to duck out at this very moment. But with the Republican National Convention arriving next week, that would explain the timing of this split:
On Tuesday afternoon, a statement from the network said, “Fox News Channel has mutually agreed to suspend its contributor agreement with Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich effective immediately.”
“Due to the intense media speculation about Gingrich’s potential selection as Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate, we felt it best to halt his contributor role on the network to avoid all conflicts of interest that may arise,” executive vice president for news Jay Wallace said.
A Fox-friendly source also tells CNN that Gingrich will likely retain his regular paycheck during this suspension. As for the man himself, he’s playing awfully coy and is quoted as saying, “I don’t know much” about Trump’s VP plans. Well, at least he’ll still have a position if Trump gives him the shaft in favor of Mike Pence or Chris Christie. One wonders how well these two would really get along after Gingrich dropped his critical gaze of the real estate mogul and picked up the cause of systemic racism. Perhaps Gingrich will be the “ideas” man on the ticket while Trump continues his performance art.
Whatever happens, this split certainly means Gingrich is in the works for a Trump administration position of some form. CNN pretty much comes out and says the split is because Gingrich is under VP consideration. Trump is expected to make a running mate announcement by the end of the week.
(Via CNN Money)