President Donald Trump took aim at Fox News anchor Bret Baier and chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt after taking issue with the network’s coverage of the ongoing war with Iran.
The dispute unfolded during Thursday’s edition of “Special Report,” with Trump criticizing Hunt on Truth Social while the Fox News program was still on the air. Baier responded to the president before the broadcast ended.
Hunt had reported that there were “no significant developments” toward ending the conflict between the US and Iran and noted that direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran were not underway.
Fox News also aired footage of Trump addressing the possibility of talks earlier Thursday.
“We’re not looking to meet or anything,” Trump told reporters in the clip.
Trump apparently took issue with how the broader segment characterized the situation and fired off a Truth Social post criticizing Hunt’s reporting.
“Jonathan Hunt of FoxNews did a particularly inaccurate report on the Failing Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote.
The president maintained that Iran, rather than his administration, was seeking negotiations.
“I don’t want to meet, they do. In fact, they are begging to make a deal,” Trump continued before turning his attention toward Baier.
“Bret Baier should straighten out his flunkies, for a change!” Trump concluded.
Baier addressed the president’s criticism directly on “Special Report,” rejecting Trump’s description of his colleague.
“First of all, Jonathan Hunt’s not a flunky. He’s a great reporter,” Baier said.
The longtime Fox News anchor then disputed the suggestion that Hunt’s report had claimed Trump wanted to meet with Iranian officials.
“Second of all, Mr. President, we didn’t say you wanted to meet,” Baier said. “In fact, we played a soundbite that you didn’t want to meet and there are no negotiations.”
Baier said the report instead focused on efforts by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US allies to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
According to Baier, Bessent was hoping to meet with G20 countries in an effort to increase pressure on Iran.
The anchor also said Gulf allies, including Qatar, were inside Tehran attempting to convince Iranian officials to make concessions, per Trending Politics.
“That was what was said,” Baier concluded.
The exchange marked another public clash between Trump and personalities at Fox News, despite the president’s long relationship with the network.
Earlier in August, Trump ripped Fox News host Shannon Bream following an interview in which she questioned Attorney General Todd Blanche about construction of the White House ballroom.
“Watching FoxNews with Shannon Bream is always like watching the Worst of Fake News CNN,” Trump wrote at the time.
Trump said he did not personally know Bream but accused her of selecting guests, polling and other material that reflected negatively on his administration.
The president has also repeatedly criticized “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov, the program’s liberal voice.
Trump previously called on Fox News executives to take Tarlov “off the air,” while attacking her commentary and television appearances.
“She is, from her voice, to her lies, and everything else about her, one of the worst ‘personalities’ on television, a real loser!” Trump wrote in one attack quoted by TV Insider.
Trump’s latest dispute with Fox News, however, centered squarely on the administration’s handling of Iran and the competing descriptions of where negotiations stand.
While Trump insisted Tehran is “begging to make a deal,” Baier maintained that Fox News had accurately reported there were no direct negotiations and had never claimed the president was seeking a meeting.
The disagreement ultimately played out almost in real time, with Trump posting his criticism while “Special Report” was airing and Baier using the same broadcast to defend Hunt and answer the president directly.
The original Trending Politics News report also pointed to an earlier clash between Trump and Fox News personalities.
