Rupert Murdoch (Who Is Supporting Trump) Helps Launch New Immigration Reform Initiative

The Partnership for a New American Economy, a pro-immigration advocacy organization that News Corp. executive co-chairman Rupert Murdoch co-chairs, is launching an initiative to push for immigration reform in 2017. But Murdoch is also backing the 2016 presidential bid of Republican nominee Donald Trump, who is strongly anti-immigrant.

According to an August 3 Politico report, the Partnership for a New American Economy’s “Reason for Reform” initiative is meant to make “the economic case” for immigration reform. Despite co-chairing New American Economy, Murdoch has also thrown his weight behind Trump, who has made attacking immigrants a central part of his campaign. Murdoch has also called for the Republican establishment to unify around Trump.

According to New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman, Murdoch has reportedly stepped in to run Fox News after sexual harassment allegations pressured former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes to resign. Murdoch will reportedly continue to run the station as is, making it difficult to reconcile with his leadership position in a pro-immigration reform advocacy group. Based on CNN’s Brian Stelter’s reporting, Lachlan Murdoch, son of the News Corp. executive co-chairman, said he and his father want to preserve the Fox’s “unique and important voice” during the elder Murdoch’s time as the channel’s acting CEO. And according to Sherman, Rupert Murdoch has repeatedly “sacrificed core principles to forge political alliances that advance his media empire’s interests.” Sherman noted that "it’s clear Trump is good for business,” and “the channel’s ratings dip whenever an anti-Trump segment airs.”

Fox News has an anti-immigration slant to its news coverage, which has included the recent outrage at a White House campaign for Immigrant Heritage month, the routine demonization of immigrants, the habitual use of anti-immigrant slurs like “anchor babies” or “illegals,” and stark opposition to immigration reform. The network has become a major driver of right-wing fearmongering on immigration by attacking Hispanic civil rights groups, routinely using stock video footage of immigrants crossing the border during immigration discussions, and stereotyping Hispanic immigrants as criminals. Fox’s immigration coverage is often sourced from extreme nativist groups like NumbersUSA and the Center for Immigration Studies.