The dramatic dust-up between Donald Trump and Fox News president Roger Ailes began with Fox News host Megan Kelly's GOP debate question and took some wily turns before the notoriously fractious figures cleared the air this week,
according to CNN.
Through a host of behind-the-scenes sources, CNN reconstructed the brouhaha sparked by Kelly asking Trump about past comments referring to particular women as "fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals" and the blustery billionaire slamming her for being an unprofessional lightweight who was gunning for him.
Ailes was reportedly pleased with Kelly's performance during the debate, but Trump and his supporters began hammering her and the network the following day, via social media and Trump television appearances. A Trump adviser suggested a boycott of Fox News.
During a CNN appearance Friday night, Trump told host Don Lemon that "You could see there was blood coming out of (Kelly's) eyes. Blood coming out of her ... wherever," a characterization many interpreted to mean Trump was referring to Kelly's menstrual cycle.
Trump denied that's what he meant, explaining that he was referring to her nose, but the "blood" story went viral, rendering Ailes "apoplectic," according to a CNN source.
Despite every other news outlet leading with it, Ailes directed his network stay silent, CNN reports, a decision described by some observers as "an uncharacteristic show of weakness by Ailes," who wanted to tamp down the story by not engaging in a public feud with the famously biting Trump.
Trump made a bevy of talk show appearances over the weekend, [purposely avoiding Fox and taking pot shots at Kelly at every opportunity]. Though Trump and Ailes did not talk over the weekend, their key aides did and by Sunday night, the "behind-the-scenes calls seemed to be bearing fruit."
Any understood truce was short-lived.
During a Monday morning appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, Trump announced that he wanted Kelly to apologize for her line of questioning, something Ailes had reportedly maintained previously was a "non-starter."
Ailes and Trump, according to CNN sources, had a "blunt talk" after the "Morning Joe" appearance, during which Ailes' warned of "war."
"There was an 'instant understanding between two titans that this was over,'" a source told CNN. "Trump wouldn't apologize, Kelly wouldn't apologize, but both sides would move on."
Trump immediately posted a Twitter message about Ailes' promise that Fox would treat him fairly going forward, though the CNN source denied that Ailes "begged" Trump to settle the feud.
"In recent days, Trump loyalists have leaked unflattering claims about Ailes, and Fox staffers have privately likened Trump to a crazy person."
"Neither of them would beg for anything," a source said.
Since the reconciliation, Fox News has seen a jump in ratings and Trump has reappeared on the network.
But there are lingering tensions on both sides, according to CNN.
"Trump won't soon forget the feeling of being beaten up on Fox's debate stage. It remains to be seen if he will show up to Fox's November and January debates.
"And Ailes won't soon forget that Trump triggered days of references to Kelly's 'blood.'
"Maybe the two men have met their match."