As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States, President Donald Trump’s administration and its allies have struggled to manage the messaging on the virus. Trump’s most influential ally in the media -- Fox News -- is responding by pivoting to what it does best: railing on Democrats and the media.

The strain of novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China. It has swiftly spread to six continents, resulting in over 3,000 deaths globally so far, over 82,000 total cases, and a stock market plunge.

The threat of coronavirus has been compounded by mixed messaging from the White House, including baseless assertions from President Donald Trump that the virus soon may simply disappear. The fact that Trump has been pathologically lying his way through the presidency doesn’t help.

In addition to occasionally dabbling in unfounded conspiracy theories, Fox News is responding to the crisis by attacking Democrats and the media for criticizing or questioning Trump’s response and competency.

Fox News figures are arguing that Democrats and the media are:

overhyping and politicizing coronavirus just to take down Trump;

complaining that no one ever gives Trump credit for successes; and

claiming that Democrats spent too much time on impeachment while Trump was trying to prepare for the impact of coronavirus.

Claim: Democrats and the media are overhyping and politicizing coronavirus to hurt Trump