Megyn Kelly and Donald Trump reportedly held a secret meeting at Trump Tower in New York City this morning, suggesting perhaps that they may have buried the rhetorical hatchet.
[see update below]
The Fox News star anchor will tonight reveal what happened at the meeting during The Kelly File, which airs weeknights at 9 p.m. Check back here for updates, but presumably she attempted to set up an interview, which would get a massive rating if it happens.
Several NBC reporters apparently spotted Megyn Kelly going into the Manhattan landmark for the sit-down with the New York real estate mogul and presidential candidate, although the Trump campaign has yet to provide confirmation.
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“NBC reporter and MSNBC anchor Ayman Mohyeldin had reported that Kelly was seen entering Trump Tower shortly before noon Wednesday, according to two tweets from network employees. A representative for Trump did not return an inquiry about the meeting,” The Hill explained .
Per @AymanM , Megyn Kelly just entered the Trump tower incognito, met by member of his team who took her upstairs.
— Beth Fouhy (@bfouhy) April 13, 2016
The GOP front-runner has been harboring bitter feelings against Kelly since the first GOP debate last August when she essentially accused him of misogyny . He has made his disdain for the “overrated” Kelly and what he has deemed unfair coverage on her show apparent on social media and in various interviews since then.
Trump meets privately with Megyn Kelly after months of feuding: https://t.co/8VtwpzURi7 pic.twitter.com/buPqFPpdxy
— The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2016
In January, Trump pulled out of the Iowa GOP debate in part because Kelly, again, was one of the moderators. Fox News boss Roger Ailes has steadfastly supported Megyn Kelly in the various dust-ups with Donald Trump during the primary season, however, which has also raised her profile and resulted in praise even in liberal precincts. Democrat presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, for example, recently described Megyn Kelly as a “superb journalist,” although she has been unwilling so far to agree to a televised interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwNyMZWUn0U
In the ongoing feud, The Donald has repeatedly complained about the anti-Trump content on The Kelly File , but “He has not attacked Kelly via Twitter since April 1,” CNN observed in connection with today’s meeting.
Fox News Confirms That Megyn Kelly Met With Trump at Trump Tower https://t.co/lkMt9AhfGW pic.twitter.com/oJhC1gsOwD
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) April 13, 2016
In a statement , Fox News acknowledged that the Kelly-Trump meeting indeed took place this morning.
“Fox News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes has spoken to Donald Trump a few times over the past three months about appearing on a Fox Broadcasting special with Megyn Kelly airing on May 23. Kelly requested a meeting with Mr. Trump, which took place at Trump Tower this morning. The results of that meeting will be revealed on tonight’s Kelly File at 9PM/ET. Kelly has acknowledged in recent interviews that Trump is a fascinating person to cover and has electrified the Republican base.”
Megyn Kelly just went into Trump Tower and was “met by a member of Trump’s team,” reports @AymanM
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) April 13, 2016
In a Variety interview published last week in which Megyn Kelly raised the possibility of leaving Fox News for another network when her current contract expires, she expressed an interest in interviewing Donald Trump, assuming a truce could emerge.
“To be honest, every time I prepare an invitation to sit down with him, he attacks me on Twitter or elsewhere. I had always been hoping I could reach out to him at a time when he wasn’t angry. I don’t think it would be a good interview if he was angry at me—but then he never stops with the attacks. I was just about to ask him to sit down with me two weeks ago, but then he started up again out of the blue.”
“The last time the two met was in March, at the Fox News debate in Michigan, and their interaction seemed cordial,” ABC News recalled .
Today’s cover: Megyn Kelly and Donald Trump have made their peace https://t.co/PTv8nfjoHz pic.twitter.com/yRtAZIEQgG
— New York Post (@nypost) April 14, 2016
As far as the difficulties in arranging a TV interview with Hillary Clinton, Megyn Kelly told Variety that “She’s surrounded by so many circles, it’s like you can’t get through. I hope she’s not going to govern like this. Am I really that scary? I’m a tough interviewer when it comes to these politicians, for sure. But how can she say she deserves George Washington’s job and not sit with me?”
Given this morning’s private meeting between Megyn Kelly and Donald Trump, do you think that a one-on-one interview on Fox News is forthcoming?
Update: On tonight’s Kelly File , Megyn Kelly revealed that in a surprise to everyone, including the Trump Tower doormen, “The meeting was at my request and Mr. Trump was gracious enough to agree to it. We met for about an hour, just the two of us, and had a chance to clear the air. Mr. Trump and I discussed the possibility of an interview, and I hope we will have news to announce on that soon…”
. @megynkelly on meeting w/ @realDonaldTrump today: “The meeting was at my request, and Mr. Trump was gracious enough to agree to it.”
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 14, 2016
[Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]