Fox News Host Faces MAGA Pile On for Harris Interview That Hasn’t Even Happened Yet
Despite Fox News host Bret Baier’s assurances, users on X latched onto the fact the vice president’s interview will be taped instead of live.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier found himself on the defensive, facing a barrage of accusations from Donald Trump's supporters on X, even before his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris had aired. The MAGA -verse, fueled by a familiar playbook of skepticism and mistrust, alleged that Baier planned to edit the pre-taped interview to portray Harris in a favorable light.
Despite Baier's repeated assurances that the interview would be aired "as-live," in its entirety, and without edits, users remained unconvinced. They pointed to the fact that the interview was pre-taped, claiming that this inherently allowed for manipulation. "The fact that it’s pre-taped is a concern," one user wrote. Another demanded, "You already said it would be edited. Which is true? Will the full interview transcript be released?"
Baier attempted to quell the firestorm, explaining that the interview was pre-taped due to scheduling constraints and that the entire 39-minute segment would be shown uninterrupted, without commercials. He even offered to release a transcript of the interview, but the skepticism remained.
"Tape is not live," one user replied, echoing the underlying distrust that fuels the MAGA -verse. "You're right," Baier finally conceded. "It's not."
The accusations against Baier mirrored Trump's own attacks on CBS's 60 Minutes, which he claimed had "illegally edited" Harris's answers. These unfounded accusations highlight the prevailing sentiment among some Trump supporters - a deep distrust of mainstream media and a belief that they are actively working to undermine Trump and his allies.
The controversy surrounding Baier's interview highlights the deep division in American society and the challenge facing journalists in a polarized political climate. The distrust sown by Trump and his supporters has created an environment where even straightforward explanations are met with suspicion and accusations of bias. While Baier attempted to assure users of his integrity and the honesty of his reporting, the damage done by the relentless attacks on the media may be too great to repair.
Despite Baier's repeated assurances that the interview would be aired "as-live," in its entirety, and without edits, users remained unconvinced. They pointed to the fact that the interview was pre-taped, claiming that this inherently allowed for manipulation. "The fact that it’s pre-taped is a concern," one user wrote. Another demanded, "You already said it would be edited. Which is true? Will the full interview transcript be released?"
Baier attempted to quell the firestorm, explaining that the interview was pre-taped due to scheduling constraints and that the entire 39-minute segment would be shown uninterrupted, without commercials. He even offered to release a transcript of the interview, but the skepticism remained.
"Tape is not live," one user replied, echoing the underlying distrust that fuels the MAGA -verse. "You're right," Baier finally conceded. "It's not."
The accusations against Baier mirrored Trump's own attacks on CBS's 60 Minutes, which he claimed had "illegally edited" Harris's answers. These unfounded accusations highlight the prevailing sentiment among some Trump supporters - a deep distrust of mainstream media and a belief that they are actively working to undermine Trump and his allies.
The controversy surrounding Baier's interview highlights the deep division in American society and the challenge facing journalists in a polarized political climate. The distrust sown by Trump and his supporters has created an environment where even straightforward explanations are met with suspicion and accusations of bias. While Baier attempted to assure users of his integrity and the honesty of his reporting, the damage done by the relentless attacks on the media may be too great to repair.