But Ailes was convinced that Trump had no political beliefs or backbone. The fact that Trump had become the ultimate avatar of Fox's angry common man was another sign that we were living in an upside-down world. The joke was on somebody-and Ailes thought it might be on him.
In "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Michael Wolff presents Roger Ailes' perspective on Donald Trump, suggesting that Ailes believed Trump lacked genuine political convictions and strength of character. Ailes viewed Trump as the embodiment of the frustrated, angry voter that Fox News had cultivated, highlighting a significant shift in American political dynamics that left Ailes feeling somewhat bewildered.
This transformation in politics led Ailes to feel as though he was caught in a surreal scenario where the very foundation of traditional beliefs was being challenged. He perceived the situation as a joke, pondering whether the punchline was ultimately directed at himself, revealing a sense of disillusionment amidst the rise of Trump as a populist figure.
