Dana Perino: News, Career & Latest Updates 2026

Dana Perino Challenges Trump Officials on Iran Media Strategy

Dana Perino, the veteran Fox News anchor and co-host of The Five, is making waves in March 2026 — not by toeing a party line, but by publicly pushing back against Trump administration officials she believes are mishandling their media communication strategy. In a week that also saw her weigh in on a migrant crime debate in Virginia, Perino has demonstrated once again why she remains one of cable news's most independent and outspoken voices.

From calling out Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for fixating on mainstream media criticism to addressing sanctuary policy failures in Virginia, Perino is at the center of several major news cycles right now. Here's a comprehensive look at who Dana Perino is, what she's been saying, and why it matters.

Who Is Dana Perino?

Dana Perino is one of the most recognizable faces on Fox News. She served as White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush from 2007 to 2009, making her the second woman ever to hold that role. After leaving the White House, she transitioned into media, eventually becoming a permanent co-host on Fox News's roundtable program The Five, alongside colleagues including Kennedy, Greg Gutfeld, and Jesse Watters at various points.

Perino is known for her measured, policy-focused analysis and her willingness to break from partisan talking points when she believes the facts warrant it. Her background in press relations gives her a unique lens through which she evaluates how administrations — of both parties — communicate with the public and the media.

Perino Tells Trump Officials to Stop Fixating on Media Criticism Over Iran

On March 4, 2026, Perino made headlines when she used her platform on The Five to deliver a pointed critique of Trump administration officials. The context was coverage of the Iran conflict, specifically the deaths of American service members — a story that had drawn significant media attention.

According to reporting by Yahoo Entertainment, Perino argued that administration officials, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were getting "really hung up" on attacking mainstream media coverage rather than focusing on substantive communication. She said they were focusing "way too narrowly" on media criticism at a time when the country was watching for leadership and clarity.

Perino's argument was grounded in evidence: she noted that the administration had actually been quite active in its communications, with regular briefings from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, General Dan Caine, Pete Hegseth himself, Press Secretary Leavitt, and Centcom. In her view, this meant most media coverage of the Iran conflict had not been as negative as officials were implying — making their media attacks not only unnecessary but counterproductive.

The critique was notable precisely because it came from a Fox News anchor. Perino wasn't echoing a liberal talking point — she was applying her years of experience as a press secretary to argue that the administration's media strategy was self-defeating.

Dana Perino Confronts Officials Over Misinformation

This wasn't the first time Perino had pushed back against the Trump administration's communications. In a separate exchange that drew significant attention, Perino confronted a Trump cabinet secretary over a social media post about a tanker that she said was inaccurate. "That wasn't true," she said bluntly, adding that the post "caused a lot of market disruption." The exchange, reported by MSN, highlighted her willingness to hold officials accountable on factual grounds regardless of party affiliation.

This pattern of behavior — calling out false or misleading statements from officials, even when those officials are aligned with Fox News's general editorial lean — is what separates Perino from many of her peers in cable news.

Virginia Migrant Crime Surge: Perino and Hemmer Weigh In

On March 18, 2026, Perino joined Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer to discuss a growing debate in Virginia over a surge in migrant crime and the state's sanctuary policies. The segment, covered by Yahoo News, focused on specific cases in Fairfax County involving individuals identified as Israel Flores Ortiz and Angel David Rubio Moran.

Political strategist Josh Holmes appeared in the segment and offered sharp criticism of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's executive order, which ended the state's cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Holmes and others argued that sanctuary policies created dangerous gaps in public safety enforcement that allowed individuals with criminal histories to remain in communities without federal immigration intervention.

The segment reflects a broader national debate about immigration enforcement, local governance, and public safety — a debate that has intensified as specific high-profile cases bring abstract policy arguments into sharp focus. Perino's involvement signals that this issue remains a top-tier news story heading into spring 2026.

Perino vs. Newsom: 'You Are Making a Fool of Yourself'

Dana Perino's independent voice extends beyond critiquing the Trump administration. In August 2025, she drew widespread attention for calling out California Governor Gavin Newsom over his social media behavior. Newsom had begun posting in an all-caps, combative style widely seen as mimicking Donald Trump's social media persona — apparently attempting to generate viral engagement and frame himself as an aggressive counter to Trump's political dominance.

Perino was not impressed. As reported by Mediaite, she told Newsom on air: "You are making a fool of yourself," urging him to "put the phone away and start over." She added on social media that "copying isn't a good look," dismissing the strategy as embarrassing and counterproductive for a politician with serious White House ambitions.

Fox anchor Trace Gallagher also weighed in critically on Newsom's posts. When former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau defended Newsom's approach as effective parody, Perino escalated by betting him dinner that Newsom would not become the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee — a wager that underscored just how little confidence she has in the strategy.

The episode illustrated Perino's broader political sensibility: she is not reflexively anti-Democrat, but she holds politicians to consistent standards of dignity and effectiveness regardless of party.

Perino's Legacy of Holding Media Accountable — On Both Sides

One of the throughlines of Dana Perino's career is her consistent critique of media double standards. Years before her current prominence, she argued on air that media outlets blamed President Bush for high gas prices while giving President Obama a pass for similar economic conditions. It was a critique that reflected her frustration with asymmetric coverage — a complaint she has applied in various forms ever since, to media coverage of both Republican and Democratic administrations.

This consistency — criticizing media when she sees bias, but also criticizing Republican officials when she believes they are wrong — is what gives Perino's commentary its credibility and staying power. She is not simply a partisan operative in an anchor's chair. She is a former press secretary who understands the mechanics of media relations and applies that expertise without fear of blowback from either side.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dana Perino

What show does Dana Perino host on Fox News?

Dana Perino is a co-host of The Five on Fox News, a roundtable-format show that airs weekdays. She also appears regularly across Fox News programming as an anchor and political commentator.

Why is Dana Perino in the news in March 2026?

Perino has made headlines in March 2026 for two main reasons: her on-air criticism of Trump administration officials — including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — for focusing too much on mainstream media attacks during the Iran conflict, and for her coverage with Bill Hemmer of the migrant crime surge in Virginia and the debate over Governor Abigail Spanberger's sanctuary policies.

Did Dana Perino work in the White House?

Yes. Dana Perino served as White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush from 2007 to 2009. She was the second woman to hold the position, and her experience in that role informs much of her media analysis today.

What did Dana Perino say about Gavin Newsom?

In August 2025, Perino publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for posting Trump-style all-caps social media content. She called the behavior embarrassing, told him to "put the phone away and start over," and bet former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau dinner that Newsom would not win the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.

Is Dana Perino critical of Republicans as well as Democrats?

Yes. Perino has demonstrated a consistent willingness to criticize officials and politicians from both parties when she believes they are wrong. Her March 2026 criticism of Trump administration officials over their Iran media strategy and her earlier confrontation with a cabinet secretary over a false social media post are notable examples of her holding Republicans accountable on her platform.

Conclusion

Dana Perino's recent visibility in the news reflects something that has defined her career for nearly two decades: a refusal to be simply partisan. Whether she is telling Trump officials they are wasting political capital by fixating on media criticism, addressing the human consequences of sanctuary policies in Virginia, or mocking Gavin Newsom's social media strategy with a dinner bet, Perino operates from a consistent set of principles about effective governance and honest communication.

In an era when cable news is often criticized for rewarding ideological loyalty over independent analysis, Perino remains an outlier — a veteran press operative and commentator willing to say uncomfortable things regardless of who is in power. That willingness to break from expectation is precisely why she keeps making news, and why audiences across the political spectrum continue to pay attention to what she says next.