CNN published a vague report on Sunday alleging that radio legend Rush Limbaugh had signed a “long-term” contract with Premiere Radio Networks to continue his hit talk show — but according to the Washington Examiner, the left-leaning cable news network wasn’t the first to get the story out.
“Rush just signed another four-year contract,” President Donald Trump announced to supporters at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday night, according to the Examiner. “He just wants four more years, OK?”
The president went on to praise other conservative commentators like Fox’s Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Tucker Carlson, who Trump called “great people.”
“Rush, Sean Hannity, Laura — a lot of great people,” Trump said, according to the Examiner. “Tucker’s been great, Fox & Friends, right?”
A great guy and a great character
Trump and Limbaugh were spotted having lunch together at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf resort just before Christmas, according to Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV, but the pair’s relationship goes back much further than that. In 2012, Trump touted Limbaugh as a “great guy” in a tweet congratulating him on being inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians.
Congratulations to my friend @limbaugh on being named to the “Hall of Famous Missourians.” Rush is a great guy & a great character.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 15, 2012
More recently, Trump thanked the radio host “for the tremendous support he has given to the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN movement and our KEEP AMERICA GREAT agenda!”
“He is a major star who never wavered despite the Fake News hits he has had to endure,” the president continued. “His voice is far bigger than theirs!”
A career going back decades
Indeed, Limbaugh has made quite a name for himself in politics over the years. He first began working in the radio business during high school, and gigged off and on as a disc jockey for the next two decades. He later branched into television as well, hosting a syndicated television program from 1992 until 1996, according to IMDB.
But Limbaugh’s real fame came from his daily talk show, which first went on the air in 1988, according to his website. The radio host rose to national prominence over the next several years as he became one of the Clinton administration’s most outspoken critics — and even former presidents took notice.
Limbaugh was lauded by Ronald Reagan as “the No. 1 voice for conservatism in our country” after Bill Clinton’s victory in the 1992 presidential election, according to National Review. What’s more, The New York Times reports that following the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, Limbaugh was even made an honorary member of the GOP caucus.
It’s clear that Limbaugh’s impact on conservative politics has transcended generations. And luckily for Trump and his supporters, it looks like Rush won’t be off the air any time soon.
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