Fox News distances itself from Hannity appearing with Trump at rally: 'An unfortunate distraction

Fox News responded to Fox anchor Sean Hannity's appearance at a "Make America Great Again" rally on Monday night, in which Hannity appeared onstage with President Donald Trump.

A network spokesperson pleaded against Hannity taking the stage with the president in a statement on Tuesday.

What are the details?

In a statement, the network said that it does not condone Fox News talent participating in campaign events.

“FOX News does not condone any talent participating in campaign events,” a statement from the network read. “We have an extraordinary team of journalists helming our coverage tonight and we are extremely proud of their work. This was an unfortunate distraction and has been addressed.”

Fox News statement on Hannity and Jeanine Pirro's participation at the Trump rally last night pic.twitter.com/NsVN6imjLw

— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) November 6, 2018

Initially, Hannity and the network said that Hannity would simply air his show from the rally venue in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and follow that with an interview with Trump.

"To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the president," Hannity said in a Twitter update Monday.

He wrote, "In spite of reports, I will be doing a live show from Cape Girardeau and interviewing President Trump before the rally. To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President. I am covering final rally for my show. Something I have done in every election in the past."

In spite of reports, I will be doing a live show from Cape Girardeau and interviewing President Trump before the rally. To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President. I am covering final rally for my show. Something I have done in every election in the past.

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 5, 2018

What happened during the rally?

During the rally, however, Trump called Hannity up to the stage.

Hannity obliged, of course, and during his remarks, gestured to the press pen and said, "By the way, all those people in the back are fake news."

Hannity cleared the air on Tuesday after appearing alongside the president when he initially said he would not.

He wrote, "What I said in my tweet yesterday was 100% truthful. When the POTUS invited me on stage to give a few remarks last night, I was surprised, yet honored by the president’s request. This was NOT planned."

What I said in my tweet yesterday was 100% truthful. When the POTUS invited me on stage to give a few remarks last night, I was surprised, yet honored by the president’s request. This was NOT planned.

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 6, 2018