A fierce confrontation erupted on-set between Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld and his co-panelist Jessica Tarlov during late March and early April 2026, representing one of multiple disputes between the pair as President Donald Trump’s declining approval numbers generate increasing strain at the outlet.
The persistent conflict between Gutfeld and Tarlov has grown more severe as Trump’s polling figures continue falling, producing an uncomfortable atmosphere among Fox on-air talent charged with supporting an administration encountering substantial public support difficulties.
Gutfeld, whose program “Gutfeld!” airs nightly at 10 p.m., has repeatedly clashed with Tarlov, a progressive commentator offering alternative viewpoints on Fox broadcasts. Their exchanges have become more contentious as the channel manages reporting on Trump’s struggling survey figures.
The conflict becomes especially uncomfortable considering Trump’s personal obsession with survey information. During a March 27 visit on “The Five,” the president openly attacked Fox News’ survey division, stating, “I hate Fox polls. Honestly, whoever does your polls are terrible.” Trump further asserted he had discussed with Fox Corp chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch about changing the outlet’s pollster—but Murdoch had not done so.
Trump’s hostility toward Tarlov intensified during late March and early April. During his March 26 phone appearance on “The Five,” with Tarlov not present, Trump informed the group he was “not a fan” of the Democratic strategist. “I think your show would be better without her, but who am I to say that?” he said. Subsequently, on the evening of April 6, Trump posted on Truth Social to contact Fox management directly, stating: “Take Jessica Tarlov off the air. She is, from her voice, to her lies, and everything else about her, one of the worst ‘personalities’ on television, a real loser! People cannot stand watching her.” It remained uncertain what prompted the message, as Tarlov had not participated in that evening’s broadcast. Tarlov replied via social media, expressing she was “so bummed” to miss the show, adding she “definitely would’ve said he’s even inflating his numbers to 42 percent.”
The remarks occurred one day following a Fox News poll revealing his disapproval rating hitting 59 percent, the peak of either of his two terms, with total approval at merely 41 percent.
The president’s survey difficulties have intensified sharply since initiating the Iran war in late February 2026. Based on the Silver Bulletin, Trump’s approval rating dropped beneath 40 percent for the first time in his second term in early April, with his net approval falling to -16.9. A CNN poll published April 1, 2026, revealed his economic approval had dropped to a career-low 31 percent, while approximately two-thirds of Americans indicated his policies had deteriorated economic circumstances.
The falling figures have placed Fox personalities in a challenging situation. Some have recognized the administration’s political obstacles, while others have minimized or criticized the survey data, occasionally contradicting the president’s own grievances about negative statistics. Insiders report tensions between Gutfeld and Tarlov have festered for months, with their philosophical divides progressively entering personal space.
Tarlov, who has participated consistently on “The Five” for multiple years, functions as one of the program’s limited progressive contributors. Her readiness to dispute conservative narratives has transformed her interactions with Gutfeld into must-see television for some—and a source for dispute.
Gutfeld received his degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in English in 1987. He developed his profession through political humor and libertarian analysis. Newsweek labeled him the “King of Late Night” after “Gutfeld!” exceeded all broadcast and cable late-night shows in audience size, including CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
During the first quarter of 2026, “Gutfeld!” attracted three million viewers each night at 10 p.m., comfortably surpassing its late-night rivals. The program showcases consistent panelists, including Fox News contributor Kat Timpf and comedian Tyrus.
Gutfeld additionally co-hosts “The Five”, which broadcasts weekdays at 5 p.m. and stands as cable news’ top-rated show. The program continued its record stretch as the most-watched cable news show for 18 straight quarters in the first quarter of 2026, averaging almost four million viewers.
Prior to his broadcasting profession, Gutfeld served as a staff writer at Prevention magazine and held the position of editor-in-chief of Men’s Health. He subsequently became editor-in-chief of Stuff magazine, boosting circulation from 750,000 to 1.2 million subscribers. He also edited Maxim magazine in the United Kingdom and wrote for the Huffington Post from its 2005 launch until 2008. He became part of Fox News Channel in 2007 as a contributor, presenting the late-night show “Red Eye” from 2007-2015 and “The Greg Gutfeld Show” from 2015-2021.
As President Trump and Vice President Vance reach the midpoint of their first year in office, these survey obstacles have remained central both on and off camera at Fox News, the network that contributed to Trump’s original political rise a decade ago.