On Monday, Fox News Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier told Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade that Trump’s complaint about their network treating him “unfairly” was not only totally false, but “really boggles the mind.”
Baier explained that the frontrunner receives mostly friendly treatment and has appeared on Fox News “almost 200 times” since announcing his presidential run. The Special Report host added that such criticism from Trump of the network was unwarranted and doesn’t do “him any good to stir up any anti-Fox feelings.”
Objectively speaking, Fox News has been extremely “fair” to Mr. Trump. In fact, most would argue that the welcoming, almost daily appearances on Fox and Friends and constant interviews with friendly hosts Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly would point to favorably biased coverage of the real estate mogul instead. But this is The Donald we are speaking of, and we all play by his rules and live in his world — the media, apparently, included.
Naturally, Trump lamented the “unfair” (meaning anything shy of fawning over his every movement) treatment he receives to Media Buzz host Howie Kurtz on Sunday, singling out Megyn Kelly — or as Trump affectionately refers to her, “Crazy Megyn” — and other pundits, namely Charles Krauthammer and The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes.
Baier, to his credit, pushed back upon hearing the audio of Trump’s complaints, maintaining that “fair” questions from Trump have been asked due to his incessant platitudes and lack of specific policy.
“Howie could have pushed back a little bit more on the fair and balanced side just to be honest,” said Baier rather bluntly. “There are people who have a problem with some of the things Donald Trump has said, and some of the policies he has not articulated. There is nothing wrong with that, that happens covering campaigns. We have covered the race fairly from the beginning.”
“For Donald Trump to say that Fox News, as an entity, is against him, it really boggles the mind. He has appeared on Fox News Channel, I think, almost 200 times since announcing his run for presidency.”
-Bret Baier
Baier continued: “For Donald Trump to say that Fox News, as an entity, is against him, it really boggles the mind. He has appeared on Fox News Channel, I think, almost 200 times since announcing his run for presidency, and arguably the town hall with Sean Hannity, one would think would balance out any minor criticism, from, or even substantial criticism, from one panelist here and there. Listen, we are going to cover the race fairly, we always have from the beginning. I don’t think it does him any good to stir up any anti-Fox feelings because I think overall, he has been treated fairly by the network.”
Baier is of course correct. The media, the execs in particular, love The Donald because he brings The Ratings—like, 24 million plus viewers per a single Fox News-hosted debate kind of Ratings. Thus, in this scenario, Trump holds the power, and he knows it. Ripping Fox News on Fox News will not deter the frontrunner’s appearances on the network in the slightest.