Fox News Host Slams Trump

Fox News anchor Bret Baier pushed back on President Donald Trump Thursday night after the president publicly criticized Fox reporter Jonathan Hunt over a report concerning U.S. efforts to increase pressure on Iran.

The unusual on-air exchange came just minutes after Trump took to Truth Social to accuse Hunt of delivering an inaccurate report about the conflict with Iran. Hunt had reported that U.S. officials were preparing to meet with Group of 20 leaders as part of an effort to increase international pressure on Tehran.

Trump objected to the characterization of the report and made clear that he did not want to personally meet with Iranian officials.

“Jonathan Hunt of FoxNews did a particularly inaccurate report,” Trump wrote while Fox’s “Special Report” was still airing. He also directed criticism toward Baier, writing that the anchor should “straighten out” his reporters.

Baier addressed the president’s criticism before the program ended, defending Hunt and explaining what the network had actually reported.

“First of all, Jonathan is not a flunky. He is a great reporter,” Baier said.

The Fox anchor then directly addressed Trump’s characterization of the story, stressing that the report never claimed Trump himself wanted a meeting with Iranian officials.

“Mr. President, we didn’t say you wanted to meet,” Baier said. He pointed out that the broadcast had included Trump’s own comments indicating that he did not want such a meeting.

Baier explained that the report instead concerned Treasury Secretary Bessent and other U.S. officials working with G20 nations and Gulf allies to increase pressure on Iran. He added that officials from Gulf states, including Qatar, were inside Tehran attempting to persuade Iranian leaders to accept concessions.

The exchange highlights the increasingly complicated relationship between Trump and Fox News, a network that has frequently provided favorable coverage of the president but has also faced his criticism when individual reports or journalists run stories he dislikes.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly attacked news organizations over their coverage of the Iran conflict, including reporting surrounding the administration’s efforts to deal with the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting pressure on American gasoline prices.

The president’s relationship with Fox has been complicated for years. While Trump has regularly appeared on the network and maintained close relationships with some of its most prominent personalities, he has also publicly criticized the network and its executives when its coverage has crossed him.

During his second term, Trump has continued to rely heavily on Fox personalities and former network figures, including several who have moved into prominent positions within his administration.

Baier remains one of the network’s most prominent political journalists and has interviewed Trump numerous times. His decision to publicly defend Hunt — and directly correct the president’s characterization of the report — adds another notable moment to the long-running tension between Trump and the network.

The episode also raises a question for Fox viewers: when Trump attacks one of the network’s reporters, will Fox stand behind its journalists, or will pressure from the White House eventually change how the network covers the administration?