The Kelly- Trump saga continues.
As we get into the last quarter of the 2016 Presidential race, Fox News has announced anchor Megyn Kelly will interview America’s most divisive orange Donald Trump. The momentous exchange will take place on the upcoming special Megyn Kelly Presents. It will mark the first sit- down interview between the two since August of last year. FOX News Chairman/ CEO Roger Ailes and The View producer Bill Geddie will be executive producing. “For the first time ever, Kelly will explore how events unfolded with Trump after the August debate as one of the most prominent voices covering the 2016 presidential campaign of the frontrunner,” the statement from Fox reads.
The announcement comes after a meeting between the two at Trump Towers several weeks ago that caused speculation from the media. “Mr. Trump and I sat down together for a meeting earlier this month at my request,” Kelly said in a statement. “He was gracious with his time and I asked him to consider an interview. I am happy to announce he has agreed, and I look forward to a fascinating exchange — our first sit-down interview together in nearly a year.”
While other guests for the special are still to be determined, the news of Trump is notable apart from his success in the Presidential election. The two have been at the center of a (albeit one- sided on Trump’s part) feud since Kelly famously confronted Trump on his history of sexist remarks at the first Republican Presidential debate. While the two have since had exchanges at more recent debates (excluding the one Trump boycotted because she was moderating), the interview will be a decidedly different environment.
The special reflects Fox News’ vote of confidence in Kelly in the face of rampant outcry from Trump and his supporters. Fortunately there seems to have been a net positive for Kelly sticking to her guns. Despite the backlash, the Kelly File has done more than well in ratings, managing to surpass Fox News veteran Bill O’ Reilly in the 25- 54 year- old demographic in 2015, Vanity Fair reports.
The special “will showcase Kelly’s renowned journalism skills in interviewing a wide variety of notable guests (to be announced) from the entertainment world and other spheres of human interest,” differentiating itself from her regular news oriented The Kelly File. In that respect, Geddie, who’s produced multiple Barbara Walters interview specials along with The View, seems to fit right in.
Megyn Kelly Presents will air May 17 at 8 pm on Fox News. Extended footage from the interviews will begin airing on The Kelly File the following day.