Washington Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti said Fox News Channel founder Roger Ailes "defined conservatism in the post-Reagan era" in reaction to the media titan's death Thursday at the age of 77.
In addition to founding the powerful cable news channel that rose in popularity as a response to bias in the mainstream press, Ailes was a media consultant to multiple Republican presidents, most famously Richard Nixon. He advised Donald Trump during his successful run for the White House in 2016.
"You're talking about someone who basically defined conservatism in the post-Reagan era more than anyone else through the creation of Fox News," Continetti said on MSNBC." "You're talking about someone who helped the rise of Donald Trump by making Donald Trump associated with Fox News Channel, giving him a new platform to reach a new audience and introducing him to the populist conservatism of Fox. A major historical figure who's downfall came very quickly, and now he's departed."
"Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough revealed the news of Ailes' death near the end of the program on Thursday, saying that Ailes and Steve Jobs were two of the most influential people on American culture and politics over the past 20 years.
Referencing Ailes' exodus from Fox over a swirl of sexual harassment allegations last summer, host Chris Matthews said Ailes had done "bad things" but praised how he was in touch with his Fox audience.
Andrea Mitchell called Ailes "dynamic" and said he "transformed American politics and American media."
His wife, Elizabeth, gave a statement to Drudge Report praising her late husband as a patriot.
"I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning," she wrote. "Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many. He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise—and to give back."