'There's ointment for that': Chris Wallace trolled after admitting he's 'itching' to return to politics

WASHINGTON, DC: Veteran broadcaster Chris Wallace has recently found himself in the midst of social media trolling as he openly expressed his eagerness to re-enter the political arena in anticipation of the 2024 election.

Wallace, a familiar face from his nearly two-decade stint at 'Fox News Sunday,' made a significant career shift in 2021, transitioning to a role where he interviewed celebrities and entertainment figures for a show initially intended for CNN's now-defunct subscriber streaming service.

In a recent interview with The Hill, Wallace shed light on an unexpected call from David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros Discovery. Zaslav apparently expressed a keen interest in having Wallace contribute to their political coverage for the upcoming 2024 elections.

Wallace disclosed, "David Zaslav called me this summer, which is unusual, and said, ‘I really would like your voice to be part of our political coverage in 2024.’ And I have to say, having been away from it for almost two years, I was getting itchy."

Social media reactions

However, Wallace's revelation was met with a barrage of social media trolling.

"There's ointment for that," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Annoying rashes tend to be itchy, so makes sense," another wrote.

"Gee, that’s too bad," a comment read.

"Nope, now go get a cream for that 'itch'. We don't want you in politics anymore," someone else added.

"There are plenty of Corp media that are fastened together with the Regime he can work for," another offered.

Wallace recently launched 'The Chris Wallace Show' on CNN, which airs on Saturday mornings and streams weekly on Max. This show diverges from the typical one-on-one lawmaker interviews, featuring a panel of pundits and news commentators discussing the most significant stories of the day.

Despite not posing a serious ratings challenge to Wallace's former network, 'The Chris Wallace Show' has managed to generate headlines and some pushback. Wallace has stirred the pot with his commentary on major pop culture figures such as Taylor Swift and Adam Driver, showcasing a different side to the seasoned journalist.

New chapter in entertainment journalism

The move into the realm of entertainment marked a new chapter for Wallace. CNN, in a major push into subscriber-based streaming news, hired him. However, the venture, known as CNN+, was short-lived, being shuttered just a day after its launch. Wallace candidly acknowledged the "bumpy ride," reflecting on the challenges faced during his time at CNN.

Discussing the network's ups and downs, Wallace acknowledged CNN's vast reach, stating, "It's been a bumpy ride. But one of the things that impressed me when I came to CNN is how big it is. We have 4,000 people all over the world. I don’t know anybody that has that in this day in age."

Having spent nearly 60 years in journalism, Wallace is no stranger to the shifting landscapes of news outlets. For two decades, he was closely associated with Fox's straight news division, setting him apart from the network's often controversial yet highly rated prime-time opinion programming.

Reflecting on his time at Fox, Wallace shared, "Coming from Fox, I used to get a lot of credit. People would come up to me and say, ‘I love how you play it straight. I love how even-handed you are.’ And on the one hand, I like praise just as much as the next person, but on the other hand, I actually found that kind of depressing."

Addressing recent perceptions of CNN as being "in opposition to the Trump administration," Wallace highlighted the network's efforts to return to "best practices and basic principles" of journalism.

With major stories on the horizon, particularly the 2024 GOP primary and the expected rematch between former President Trump and President Biden, Wallace anticipates a challenging year.

Critical analysis of GOP debates and Concerns about Trump and Biden

Critiquing the GOP primary debates, Wallace expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "Through no fault of the moderators, I don’t think they’ve been particularly productive. Which isn’t to say they shouldn’t be held, but it’s awfully hard to get engaged in a debate when the person who’s leading the field by 30 points isn’t there."

Having interviewed the former president and moderated debates in which Trump participated, Wallace takes Trump's recent threats against the media seriously.

“You know the old Maya Angelou line. ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them.’ Donald Trump has shown us in spades who he is,” he cautioned.

“There’s every reason in the world to think a second Trump term will be more alarming, more threatening, and more challenging to our basic constitutional norms.”

On the other hand, he acknowledged President Biden's challenges as well. “Age is absolutely a legitimate issue,” he admitted. “When the president says, ‘Watch me,’ I think a lot of people are watching and they’re concerned. He has every right in the world to run, but I don’t think it’s negative to say he’s got real political problems.”

Wallace dismissed questions about the impact of a Trump vs Biden rematch on news outlets, insisting that the critical question is what it means for the nation.

"Obviously, there are times you are more excited about the choice or less excited about the choice. … But I’ve never seen less enthusiasm for a potential race and what it portends for the choices the country faces over the next four years than a Trump-Biden rematch," he concluded.

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