Jessica Tarlov Takes a Break After Trump’s ‘Loser’ Swipe

Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov stepped away from “The Five” for a tropical getaway shortly after President Donald Trump publicly criticized her in a sharp Truth Social post. The 42-year-old Democratic strategist shared photos from Lanai, Hawaii, where she attended a friend’s wedding with her husband, hedge fund executive Brian McKenna.

Trump’s brief but pointed message came after Tarlov argued on air that tougher gun-control laws could help prevent future mass shootings. “I can’t stand Jessica Tarlov of THE FIVE,” Trump wrote. “A real loser!” Tarlov had acknowledged that no policy could stop every act of violence, adding, “You will never be able to stop all of the lunatics.”

The president has repeatedly targeted Tarlov over her liberal commentary, making her one of the Fox personalities he has criticized most openly even as many of the network’s hosts support his administration. She has also clashed on air with co-host Greg Gutfeld in heated exchanges that left the pair talking over each other.

🚨 NOW: President Trump calls Jessica Tarlov "DUMB" and RIPS Fox News' Shannon Bream

"Watching Fox News with Shannon Bream is always like watching the Worst of Fake News CNN. I don’t know Shannon, but she always seems to pick guests, charts, and “polls” that are negative…"… pic.twitter.com/xl2xpkXboT

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 16, 2026

Tarlov’s absence appears temporary rather than permanent. On Instagram she posted images of herself in a green-and-white striped midi dress with a banana-leaf pattern, posing with her husband against a tropical backdrop. Another photo showed the couple making faces, and a video captured them swimming near a waterfall. “Quick getaway to the most beautiful place on earth with my favorite guy,” she captioned the posts.

The couple married in May 2021. Her break from the studio coincides with Trump’s ongoing frustrations over certain Fox News coverage, including polling and commentary he views as unfair. While many of the network’s biggest voices regularly feature administration officials, Trump has not hesitated to call out those who challenge him or promote Democratic talking points.

Tarlov has built a career as one of the rotating liberal voices on a show dominated by conservative hosts. That role has made her a frequent target among MAGA viewers and, increasingly, the president himself. There is no indication she plans to leave Fox News.

For the moment, the on-air sparring has given way to Hawaiian scenery. Tarlov appears to have simply traded the cable-news lights for a waterfall while the political debate continued without her.