The contentious interview between Fox News' Megyn Kelly and Donald Trump surrogate Newt Gingrich might have been a tipping point for the network, says NBC News political director Chuck Todd.
"We may look back at the Newt Gingrich-Megyn Kelly, that little appearance, and say, 'That's when the Roger Ailes Fox News died,'" Todd said during an interview with WWD editor-in-chief Edward Nardoza, referring to the exit of Fox News leader Roger Ailes, who resigned from the network amid allegations of sexual harassment.
"Let's see what happens, what Fox News looks like in a year, who is the big face of it. There's clearly turmoil there a little bit. There's a lot of symbolism at the moment. It could symbolize a changing of the guard at Fox," he continued.
"It could symbolize a changing of the guard inside the Republican Party. It can symbolize a lot of things. The point is that I think it is a moment that will help explain what happened in the election."
Trump on Wednesday praised Gingrich for slamming Kelly during the interview. The former House speaker argued with the Fox News host, saying she was "obsessed with sex," when she brought up claims about Trump sexually harassing women.
Todd said an association with the GOP nominee could drag down his surrogates and "it does feel like anyone who is associated with Trump is not going to leave with their reputation intact."
Trump's involvement also could lead to lasting harm to other institutions, according to Todd, who is also the host of NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Everything Trump has touched — it feels like we are all sullied by it. We in the press, our political infrastructure, the debates. Publicly humiliating a former president of the United States, that is what third-world countries do," Todd said, referring to Trump bringing out former President Bill Clinton's accusers to the second presidential debate.
Trump appears headed for defeat, unless "there has to be some event that we don't know about to change the trajectory of the race… I've always been careful to say it's never over till it's over, but it's very, very structurally difficult," Todd added.
A Trump win would be a "seismic event" that would shake the "country's psyche."
The election could have a lasting impact on politics afterward. "What's the collateral damage? That's what we're trying to figure out. What's the collateral damage to our democracy? What's the collateral damage to the Republican Party? What's the collateral damage to whoever wins and their ability to govern?" he asked.
Todd was also critical of Hillary Clinton's ties to the Clinton Foundation in another interview, telling WGN Radio, if she wins the presidency, she should "shut it down."
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