Limbaugh Takes Trump’s Side in Fox News Debate Spat

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took Donald Trump’s side in a feud with Fox News, saying the network had played into the billionaire’s hand by engaging him.

Limbaugh weighed in on The Rush Limbaugh Show Wednesday, offering that he “can’t avoid discussing it” even though he has relationships with most of the parties involved.

The argument between Fox and Trump picked back up when Trump, the front-runner in the Republican presidential race, declined an invitation Tuesday to the upcoming Republican debate hosted by Fox News. Trump, according to Limbaugh, has been suspicious of Fox since anchor Megyn Kelly asked him his first question at his first debate.

Limbaugh argued that Trump was right to be suspicious.

“There isn’t any fear, what there is here, in my opinion, is a desire to control this and a purposeful decision to not put himself in a circumstance where other people are going to make him look bad,” Limbaugh said. “This is what it looks like, when some guy stands up to the rules in the game, and says ‘screw yours, I’m looking out for me first.’ ”

Limbaugh argued that Trump operates outside of the Republican establishment, for which there is “the game” played by “the rules.”

“He’s never been a player in this game, he’s always been an outsider,” Limbaugh said. “He controls the media when he’s not on it. He controls the media when he is on it. He controls the media when he’s asleep.”

Trump tweeted his satisfaction shortly after the Limbaugh offered his support.