Bret Baier Claps Back at Donald Trump on-Air Over Post Slamming Fox News' 'Flunky' Reporters

Fox News host Bret Baier clapped back at President Donald Trump on-air after the POTUS posted a furious message on Truth Social attacking the network's foreign policy coverage.

On Thursday evening, August 27, Trump slammed Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt over an "inaccurate" segment regarding the conflict with Iran, demanding Baier "straighten out his flunkies.”

Hunt reported that Trump said no talks are happening between the U.S. and Iran.

“We’re not looking to meet or anything,” Trump said in a clip aired during the segment.

Following the report, the president lashed out on Truth Social, claiming Fox News mischaracterized the state of potential diplomacy.

“Jonathan Hunt of Fox News 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. Bret Baier should straighten out his flunkies, for a change! President DJT,” he wrote.

Beyond targeting Hunt, Trump explicitly ordered Fox News executives to "Take Jessica Tarlov off the air," calling the liberal co-host of The Five a "real loser.”

Baier addressed the post live, noting that the segment never actually stated Trump wanted to meet with Iranian leadership, thereby correcting the president's misinterpretation in real time.

He directly defended his colleague on Special Report, stating that Hunt is "not a flunkie" and firmly correcting Trump's characterization of the news report.

“First of all, Jonathan Hunt’s not a flunky. He’s a great reporter,” Baier said. “Second of all, Mr. President, we didn’t say you wanted to meet. In fact, we played a soundbite you didn’t want to meet, and there are no negotiations. We said that Treasury Secretary Bessent is hoping to meet with G-20 countries to increase pressure on Iran, and that Gulf State allies, including Qatar, are inside Tehran trying to get Iran to agree to concessions. That was what was said.”

The showdown unfolds amidst intense military tensions, with the Trump administration enforcing a strict maritime deadline in the Strait of Hormuz.

A day before the segment, Trump baselessly declared war, which hit the six-month mark on Friday, August 28, with an AI meme that used the infamous phrase George W. Bush used during the Iraq War: “Mission Accomplished."

While Baier recently relayed phone interviews highlighting Trump's openness to negotiations, this aggressive clash underscores an increasingly litigious and volatile relationship between Trump and mainstream media networks — including the president’s once hyper-loyal Fox News — during his second term.

Multiple traditionally supportive commentators and anchors on Fox News have voiced concern, bewilderment and frustration over the Trump administration's military objectives in Iran. Analysts note this marks a significant shift, suggesting Trump is on "increasingly dicey footing" within the conservative media ecosystem regarding the conflict.