What the future holds for Rupert Murdoch’s heir Lachlan and Fox News as it faces pivotal 2024 US election, decline of Biden and the ever-present specter of Trump

Rupert Murdoch’s resignation as leader of Fox News’ parent company will leave his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch in control, raising questions about what the shakeup means for the cable news giant when it comes to the 2024 election.

Lachlan will take over as chairman of News Corp and continue as executive chairman and CEO of Fox News parent company Fox Corp, after Murdoch, 92, announced on Thursday he is stepping down from both companies.

The succession plan has been in the works for years, with Lachlan taking over as CEO of Fox Corp in March 2019, when the company was created from the assets left over from the sale of 21st Century Fox to Disney.

Lachlan’s status as heir apparent was cemented after brother James resigned from the board of sister company News Corp in July 2020, citing “disagreements over certain editorial content.”

Although Lachlan has long been an enigmatic figure, he is widely seen as the most conservative of Rupert’s children, with some observers claiming that he is further to the right than his father on some issues.

However, industry observers wonder whether Lachlan will make significant changes in the short term while his father still has effective control through his voting shares.

“It is too early to say what the future holds and it is unclear what direction the company will take under Lachlan’s leadership,” Paolo Pescatore, an industry expert from PP Foresight, told PA Media.

‘There should be no drastic changes in the short term as he has been heavily involved for some time. But he will want to strengthen his own position and create his own legacy.’

He added: “Lachlan’s first task will be to manage this transition as smoothly and seamlessly as possible to ensure no instability.

“Either way, big boots need to be filled and that’s never easy given the empire created. However, it is still of the utmost importance that Rupert is by your side.”

Lachlan takes over the Murdoch empire as the media industry at large is beset by challenges, including the decline in traditional television viewership.

In addition to Fox News, Lachlan will lead a sprawling media empire that includes The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and The Sun, as well as Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment and others.

Fox News remains the largest U.S. cable news network and plays an influential role in American politics as the country prepares for new presidential elections in 2024.

What are Lachlan Murdoch’s politics?

For years, Lachlan’s political views remained a mystery, although he has recently more openly defended his conservative views.

In March 2021, speaking at a Morgan Stanley conference, he said that Fox News would serve as the “loyal opposition” to President Joe Biden, predicting that the network would achieve the same ratings as MSNBC during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Lachlan Cartwright, editor-in-chief of the Daily Beast, claimed in January that Lachlan Murdoch’s “politics are much more conservative than his father’s.”

“He’s definitely more conservative than his father and so I think you’ll see some of that reflected in some titles across the empire,” Cartwright argued in an episode of the podcast “The New Abnormal.”

For years, Lachlan’s political views remained a mystery, although he has recently more openly defended his conservative views.

Lachlan is seen with father Rupert in 2013

However, Lachlan’s views on Trump himself seem erratic.

If Wolff’s book is to be believed, Lachlan kept toilet paper printed with Trump’s face during the 2016 election, and said his family cried when the Republican won.

In response to that claim, Fox News told DailyMail.com, “The fact that this author’s books are being spoofed by Saturday Night Live is really all you need to know.”

Last year, CNN sources cited say Lachlan openly criticizes Trump in private and tells confidants he disapproves of the former president’s behavior.

However, text messages revealed in the Dominion lawsuit show that Lachlan instructed Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott to avoid any negative coverage of a Nov. 14, 2020 rally at which Trump denied his election loss.

“News people need to be careful how they cover this meeting,” Lachlan said. ‘So far some of the comments have been somewhat anti, and that shouldn’t be the case. The story should be this huge celebration of the president.”

In another message, he called Fox correspondent Leland Vittert “smug and obnoxious.” Vittert now anchors a show at NewsNation.

What will Lachlan’s ascension mean for Fox News?

The network’s coverage of the 2024 presidential and general elections will come under increased scrutiny following the Dominion lawsuit.

A Fox News insider told DailyMail.com that there is no indication of lineup changes following Rupert’s announcement.

The network’s executive team will remain unchanged during the transition, they noted.

“It’s business as usual,” the person said.

Still, the changing of the guard raised questions about what the Lachlan era might herald for the cable news giant.

In the past, Lachlan has expressed support for Tucker Carlson, the host who was abruptly fired from the network in April, leading some to speculate about a Carlson comeback.

In 2021, Lachlan staunchly supported Carlson after the pundit was accused of spreading racism by the Anti-Defamation League. Lachlan wrote a letter to the ADL supporting Carlson.

But the exact circumstances of Carlson’s ouster and Lachlan’s possible role in it remain unclear, as does their current relationship.

It’s also unclear whether Carlson would welcome a relaxation from his former employer after moving his show to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Rupert Murdoch is seen with sons James (right) and Lachlan (left) in 2016

Meanwhile, according to author Michael Wolff’s upcoming book about the network, Lachlan supported the idea of ​​firing Sean Hannity as a way to appease Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation suit.

Lachlan reportedly suggested that Hannity’s secret romance with another anchor could be used as a pretext to fire him, citing the fate of former CNN boss Jeff Zucker as precedent.

However, Hannity remains a Fox News host and the network has denied Wolff’s claims.

In a statement on Thursday, Lachlan congratulated his father on “his remarkable 70-year career.”

“We thank him for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination and the lasting legacy he leaves to the companies he founded and the countless people he influenced,” he added.