Pete Wehner, a former speechwriter for several U.S. presidents, recently shared his thoughts on X regarding an interview between Kamala Harris and Fox News host Bret Baier. He suggested that Harris “dominated” Baier during their exchange, calling it one of her best performances. “Bret Baier rarely looked as bad as he did with Harris,” Wehner posted.
The interview marked Harris’s first formal encounter on the right-leaning network, aimed at reaching conservative and independent voters as the election nears. Over the course of 30 minutes, Baier pressed Harris on hot-button issues, including immigration, the economy, and the Middle East.
The discussion became particularly heated over immigration policies. Baier challenged Harris on the Biden administration’s reversal of Trump’s policies, to which Harris attributed the delays to Republican obstruction of a bipartisan immigration bill that Trump had urged Senators to vote against.
When the conversation shifted to the economy, Harris requested that Baier engage in a full assessment based on facts rather than assumptions.
During a segment about Trump’s controversial remarks regarding the military and his so-called “enemy within,” Baier showcased footage where Trump labeled Democrats as radical leftists. Remarkably, Harris rebuffed Baier’s framing of the clip, arguing it oversimplified Trump’s inflammatory language regarding violence.
Behavior analyst Dr. Jack Brown provided insight on Baier’s body language during the interview, suggesting that his gestures indicated a desire to silence Harris rather than facilitate dialogue.
Another contentious moment arose when Baier questioned Harris’s claim to be a change candidate, stating that she and Biden have been in office since 2021. Harris attempted to redirect the conversation, implying that Trump had not moved on from his presidency. When tensions rose, Baier pressed further, and their exchange signified a struggle over narrative control.
Reactions to the interview were polarized. Supporters lauded Harris for her poise and ability to assert herself under scrutiny. Billionaire Mark Cuban praised her composure and remarked that she effectively stood up to Baier without resorting to disparagement.
Conversely, Republican strategist Andrew Surabian critiqued Harris, stating she appeared flustered while facing tough questions for the first time in a while. Critiques also emerged about the interview format, with some noting that Baier allowed Trump extended talking time in previous interviews while being more aggressive with Harris.
In a rare social media post, Trump praised Baier’s approach but slammed Harris, calling her the “WORST Vice President in history” and claiming she suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”