Fox News anchor Bret Baier pushed back on President Donald Trump live on air Thursday night after the commander in chief branded the network’s chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt a “flunky.”
The clash erupted over a report on “Special Report” about the war with Iran. Hunt said there had been “no significant developments” toward ending the conflict and cited Trump’s own remarks that Washington was not holding talks with Tehran.
“We’re not looking to meet or anything,” Trump told reporters earlier Thursday in a clip aired by Fox News.
Trump apparently caught the segment and unloaded on Hunt soon afterward on Truth Social.
“Jonathan Hunt of FoxNews did a particularly inaccurate report on the Failing Islamic Republic of Iran. I don’t want to meet, they do. In fact, they are begging to make a deal.”
Trump concluded: “Bret Baier should straighten out his flunkies, for a change! President DJT.”
Baier responded before the live Fox News broadcast ended, defending Hunt and insisting the correspondent had never suggested Trump was seeking a meeting with Iran.
“First of all, Jonathan Hunt’s not a flunky. He’s a great reporter,” Baier stated. “Second of all, Mr. President, we didn’t say you wanted to meet. In fact, we played a soundbite that you didn’t want to meet and there are no negotiations.”
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Baier said the report instead focused on efforts by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and American allies to increase pressure on Tehran.
“We said that Treasury Secretary Bessent is hoping to meet with G-20 countries to increase the pressure on Iran, and Gulf State allies, including Qatar, are inside Tehran trying to get Iran to agree to concessions. That was what was said.”
Fox News may remain Trump’s preferred cable network, but the president has repeatedly torched its personalities when he believes their coverage crosses him.
Earlier this month, Trump blasted host Shannon Bream after she pressed Attorney General Todd Blanche over the continued construction of the White House ballroom.
“Watching FoxNews with Shannon Bream is always like watching the Worst of Fake News CNN,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I don’t know Shannon, but she always seems to pick guests, charts, and “polls” that are negative, never talking about all of the incredible things that the Trump Administration has done.”
Trump has also repeatedly targeted liberal “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov, previously calling on Fox News executives to take her “off the air.”
“She is, from her voice, to her lies, and everything else about her, one of the worst ‘personalities’ on television, a real loser! People cannot stand watching her.”
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