From Vanity Fair · Aidan McLaughlin · · 2m
Bret Baier on Trump, Fox News, and Press Peril
Bret Baier warns Trump’s press attacks threaten media independence.
In brief
Bret Baier warns Trump’s press attacks threaten media independence. Bret Baier says Trump’s press ban efforts risk media independence, but Fox News remains Trump’s closest media partner. Originally reported by Vanity Fair.
Bret Baier at Cafe Milano
Bret Baier, Fox News anchor, meets at Georgetown’s Cafe Milano for dinner.
“This is kind of my clubhouse”
Election Diet
Baier drops 15 pounds every October during election years.
“I have an election diet”
Fox News and Trump
Fox News joined media in pulling coverage from White House press pool after Trump’s press ban attempt.
“We made our feelings clear the second it happened”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Fox paused booking interviews with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after his Pentagon press pool ejection.
“I always had a good relationship with him at Fox”
Special Report
Special Report airs weekdays at 6 p.m. and draws over 2.5 million viewers nightly.
“Good evening, and welcome to Washington”
Trump and Baier Relationship
Baier and Trump have a strained but functional relationship with Trump calling Baier a 'six' and Baier saying he'll take six.
“Bret, I tell you what, you’re a six. You’re not a seven or an eight. You’re a six”
Baier’s Critiques
Baier fact-checked Trump on inflation and aired a poll showing 77% of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling.
“77 percent of voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the issue”
Mollie Hemingway
Mollie Hemingway, a Trump booster, appears on Special Report despite past criticism of Trump.
“Mollie said something that was egregious on the panel”
Press Ban Impact
Trump’s press ban attempt led Fox News to pull coverage from White House press pool.
“We made our feelings clear the second it happened”
Baier’s Book
Baier wrote 'The Case for America' highlighting founding principles like freedom of press and speech.
“The Case for America”
Trump’s Rhetoric
Trump called Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews 'Trannie Andrews' during campaign.
“Trannie Andrews”
Fox News and Trump
Fox News has a complex relationship with Trump, balancing press criticism and political support.
“I think history will judge whether he’s been, in the big picture, this great figure or whether he has been what some would describe as a divisive figure”
Press Independence
Baier says Trump’s press attacks threaten media independence but Fox News remains Trump’s closest media partner.
“I think history will judge whether he’s been, in the big picture, this great figure or whether he has been what some would describe as a divisive figure”
Trump’s Press Attacks
Trump’s press attacks led to Fox News pulling coverage from White House press pool.
“We made our feelings clear the second it happened”
Baier’s Role
Baier acts as a hockey goalie blocking misinformation while hosting Trump supporters.
“I’m still the goalie”
Press Ban Consequence
Trump’s press ban attempt led to Fox News pulling coverage from White House press pool.
“We made our feelings clear the second it happened”
The essence
Bret Baier says Trump’s press ban efforts risk media independence, but Fox News remains Trump’s closest media partner.
