By Charles Switzer
5:13am PDT, May 11, 2025
Bret Baier Acknowledges Trump's Role in Eroding Media Trust
Fox News anchor
Bret Baier openly credited President
Donald Trump for significantly undermining public trust in the media.
In an interview on "Politico Playbook's Deep Dive podcast," Baier stated, "Of course, yeah, he kind of broke the system." Baier further acknowledged that this was likely part of Trump's broader agenda, suggesting that undermining the media was a deliberate tactic to appeal to voters who felt disconnected from traditional news outlets.
Here's everything the conservative commentator had to say about Trump's decade-long media blitz.
MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news
Trump Tapped Into Growing Skepticism Among Voters
Bret Baier noted that Donald Trump successfully capitalized on a
deep and widespread skepticism toward the media, especially among middle-class Americans.
He explained, "Middle America didn't trust what they were getting from a lot of media."
This growing distrust of mainstream news sources, Baier argued, provided Trump with fertile ground to launch his attacks and garner support from those who felt marginalized by traditional news organizations.
Trump's Attacks on the Media During His Second Term
Bret Baier discussed how the erosion of trust in the media has intensified during Donald Trump's second term.
He highlighted the president's repeated attacks on news organizations he perceived as hostile to his administration, including CNN, NBC and even Fox News itself.
Trump's ongoing criticisms of the media, according to Baier, have had a lasting impact on public perceptions of news outlets.
The Fallout Within Fox News
Donald Trump's media warpath hasn't spared Bret Baier's own network, Fox News.
While the network has been a staunch supporter of Trump, Baier pointed out that the president has repeatedly criticized Fox News for unfavorable polling and negative commentary. Despite this, Trump has also selectively tapped Fox News contributors to join his administration, adding a layer of complexity to the relationship between the president and the network.
Declining Public Confidence in the Media
The conversation about Donald Trump's influence on the media comes at a time when public confidence in traditional news outlets is on the decline.
A Gallup survey conducted just ahead of the 2024 election revealed that only about 30 percent of Americans report having a "great deal" of trust in the media to provide fair and accurate reporting.
This statistic highlights the broader trend of skepticism and distrust that Baier and others have identified as a significant issue within American society.
