Fox News anchor Bret Baier corrected former President Donald Trump live on air after Trump criticized the network's midterm election polling. The exchange occurred shortly after midnight ET as the extent of Republican losses became apparent.
Trump, asked about his support for Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton and South Carolina nominee Darline Graham, both of whom lost their races, stated that the Fox polls were "terrible" and advised the network to "get yourself a good pollster."
Baier responded by pointing out that the "results are pretty close to what the Fox polls showed." Fox's final midterm polls, published November 1, had predicted Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives, which occurred, and forecast a toss-up for the Senate, which Democrats ultimately won. The network also predicted close races in Republican strongholds like Kansas and Texas, where Democrats achieved notable victories.
Despite Baier's correction, Trump continued to express dissatisfaction with Fox's polling, asserting they had been "wrong for 12 years" regarding his popularity. He cited historical examples of low polling numbers for figures like Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan on the network, contrasting them with his own perceived higher numbers.
Trump had previously stated he would accept the midterm election results. In comments to The New York Times, he also indicated a willingness to work with Democrats, saying, "We’ll probably work something out."
Earlier, Trump had attributed the Republican party's electoral performance partly to his decision to invade Iran in February, an action that led to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This event resulted in Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil prices and the cost of living. Trump's 2024 campaign had previously promised to address price spikes and avoid new wars.