(CNN Business) President Trump's go-to move in a crisis is always the same: to call Fox News.

On Monday morning he called into "Fox & Friends," one of his most reliable sources of support, and praised his own response to the pandemic.

It was Trump's third interview on Fox in the past week, and it was more of the same: He talked for 54 minutes with hardly a tough question or assertive follow-up.

If the ratings-conscious president had wanted to reach a bigger audience, he would have called into the "Today" show or "Good Morning America." If he had wanted to be heard on the global stage, he would have granted an interview to CNN.

His decision to stay on Fox suggest he wants to shore up his base — and avoid difficult questioning.