“I Wouldn’t Want Them”: Trump Criticizes Fox News Debate Moderators Live on Air
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Early Wednesday, former president Donald Trump publicly criticized two Fox News hosts, Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, who had been floated as potential moderators for a future debate between him and Vice President Kamala Harris. Speaking live on Fox & Friends, Trump made it clear he did not want the duo involved in any upcoming debate, stirring controversy during the broadcast.
“I wouldn’t want to have Martha and Brad,” Trump said to the Fox News panel, directly referring to MacCallum and Baier. He went on to emphasize his dissatisfaction, repeating, “I’d love to have somebody else other than Martha and Brad. I don’t think Martha and Brad were good last night.”
Trump expressed his preference for other Fox News hosts, suggesting Jesse Watters or Laura Ingraham as better choices. “I preferred Watters’ response to the debate,” Trump explained, praising Watters for suggesting that Trump had won the debate. Trump also mentioned that he’d like to see conservative figures like Sean Hannity or Ingraham moderate, reinforcing his desire for a more supportive panel.
The critique of MacCallum and Baier’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. CNN media analyst Brian Stelter quickly weighed in on the situation. “Live on Fox, Trump insults the two Fox anchors who have been pitched as debate moderators – Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum – and says, ‘I wouldn’t want to have’ them,” Stelter reported.
Stelter further noted that Trump’s request for more favorable hosts like Hannity, Watters, or Ingraham was “an obvious non-starter,” implying that such a request would be highly controversial and unlikely to happen.
Trump’s public rejection of Fox News’ proposed moderators adds to the growing tension between him and the network, raising questions about how future debates will be structured and moderated.
