Fox News anchor Bret Baier challenged Donald Trump’s claim that inflation had fallen from 19 percent to 1.7 percent during a Wednesday broadcast of Special Report.
Baier, 56, noted that the latest figure was “actually closer to 2.4 percent” before introducing a graphic showing that overall prices had increased 3.7 percent over the past year.
“Costs. That’s really what this election has been about. If you look at the polls, higher costs,” Baier said. The data came from the same inflation report Trump appeared to misstate during a pre-midterm rally in Montana earlier Wednesday.
Baier then turned to another chart tracking the president’s sharply declining approval rating on inflation.
“And you see the difference there, from January and from March of last year,” Baier said, highlighting a drop in approval from 35 percent to 22 percent following the United States’ first strikes on Iran. Disruptions in oil markets sent domestic prices soaring.
The decline was even steeper compared with March of the previous year, when 40 percent of registered voters surveyed approved of Trump’s handling of inflation, Baier noted.
A panel discussion followed, during which Wall Street Journal reporter Meridith McGraw said Americans “aren’t buying” the administration’s economic talking points.
Baier also cited a Fox poll showing Democratic congressional candidates with an advantage over Republicans. The finding came days after Fox correspondent Peter Doocy questioned Trump’s assertion that the Pentagon would not strike Iran before the midterm elections.
Bret Baier, 56, challenged Donald Trump’s inflation claim during Wednesday’s edition of Special Report
Trump told supporters at a Montana rally that inflation had dropped from 19 percent to 1.7 percent
An Atlantic report published the previous week suggested that such a strategy could be under consideration as Republicans seek political gains ahead of the elections.
The report attributed the information to two unnamed administration officials.
“It’s clearly in the Democrats’ corner,” Baier said as an on-screen graphic showed Democrats holding a six-point lead among voters who said they were certain to cast a ballot.
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“People are really frustrated with how the White House has handled issues like inflation,” McGraw said.
Baier noted that Democrats would argue the elevated inflation rate Trump inherited was largely a consequence of the pandemic.
The discussion later shifted to Kamala Harris, who is scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Florida later this month.
October’s inflation data will not be released until November 10, several days after Election Day.
Trump previously criticized Special Report in August after chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt told viewers that there had been “no significant developments” in peace talks between Iran and the United States.
Baier introduced a graphic showing that overall prices had risen 3.7 percent over the previous year
The same inflation report Trump appeared to misstate also showed his falling approval on the issue; the next inflation reading will arrive after the midterms
Trump framed Hunt as a ‘flunky’ in a scathing social media post, leading to a curt on-air response from Baier.
‘First of all, Jonathan is not a flunky. He’s a great reporter,’ the anchor said live, after taking the time to read the Truth Social post.
‘Second of all, Mr President, we didn’t say you wanted to meet.’
The anchor pointed out how producers merely played a clip of Trump telling reporters that there was ‘not a lot to speak with Iran, we are not looking to meet or anything,’ and that ‘the [Strait of Hormuz] is open.’
Baier emphasized: ‘You didn’t want to meet, and there are negotiations.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Fox News and the White House for comment.