More than one media analyst has wondered if former President Donald Trump could replace the late Rush Limbaugh on talk radio.
Michael Harrison, founder of Talkers Magazine, an industry source, noted in early January that Mr. Trump was not likely ready for “prime-time radio.”
Another analyst also wonders about the situation — including the possibility that former Vice President Mike Pence could be in the running.
“To be fair, no one can truly replace Rush Limbaugh, can they?” wrote Tom Jones, a senior writer for the Poynter Institute, a media think tank and academic source based in Florida. “He was beloved by his listeners. Not just anyone can be thrown into that spot and have the same following, loyalty and — what matters most — ratings as Limbaugh. The first name to jump out is a strong conservative who is beloved by the right and is currently out of work: Donald Trump.
“While Trump’s name might be fun for the rumor mill, it seems highly unlikely that Trump would want that gig,” Mr. Jones wrote. “For starters, radio is hard. Part of what made Limbaugh so good was his work ethic. While it often appeared that Limbaugh was just winging it for three hours, it was his preparation that made his program appear so smooth and effortless. Would Trump be willing to put in the time to be good at radio?
“While a national radio show would keep Trump in the spotlight and get his message out there, it’s hard to imagine him committing three hours a day, five days a week to hosting a radio show,” the analyst said. “He probably will have a standing invitation to go on Fox News or Newsmax whenever he feels like talking.”
He also suggested an alternative talent.
“A couple of months ago, a natural choice to replace Limbaugh would have been former Vice President Mike Pence, who has experience as a radio and TV host,” Mr. Jones concluded. “But Pence’s reputation among Trump loyalists is mud, and that eliminates chances he could host Limbaugh’s show, assuming he would even be interested.”
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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