Bret Baier has extensively covered significant events from the aftermath of 9/11 to various elections during his long career at Fox News. A graduate of DePauw University with a political science background, he has earned numerous accolades, hosted “Special Report,” and even socialized with former President Donald Trump.
However, his journey hasn’t always been smooth. Baier has faced multiple career challenges while moving from local TV in South Carolina to a top position in conservative media. Additionally, his family has dealt with serious incidents, including severe car accidents and multiple heart surgeries. This article highlights nine tragic moments in Baier’s life.
Car Accident Involving Bret and His Family
In 2019, Bret Baier and his family experienced a terrifying car accident while returning from a skiing trip in Montana. The vehicle skidded on icy roads, flipped, and they found themselves trapped inside. Thankfully, a passerby named Zach intervened and assisted them.
Bret expressed gratitude for those who helped, stating, “Thanks to the first responders and Montana Highway Patrol — we made it to the hospital quickly.” He also shared the experience on social media, emphasizing the blessing of family and life. All four members of the Baier family were discharged from the hospital the same day, receiving well wishes from colleagues. Remarkably, just a day later, Bret returned to his show, “Special Report,” thanking everyone for their support.
Paul, Bret’s Son, Faced Major Health Issues
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The joy of becoming parents in 2007 quickly turned to concern when Bret and Amy’s son, Paul, was diagnosed with five congenital heart defects. The doctors informed them that he would need several open-heart surgeries, with uncertain outcomes about his survival.
Bret recalled the moment as devastating, stating it felt like “a bomb went off in the room.” He shared that Paul underwent critical surgeries at just 12 days and 10 months old. However, his health journey continued to be challenging with numerous procedures required over the years.
During a book promotion for “Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love,” Bret illustrated the family’s reliance on faith to navigate these difficulties. He recalled a conversation with Paul about his challenges, reassuring him that these trials were part of God’s plan, and praised Paul’s resilience.
In 2020, Bret Baier announced on Instagram that his father, Bill, passed away after a long fight with cancer. He shared that he, his wife Amy, and sons Paul and Daniel were able to say farewell before his dad’s death, which he viewed as a blessing due to its swift nature.
Bret often expressed his admiration for his father. In a 2017 interview with MarketWatch on Father’s Day, he shared a pivotal memory of moving from New Jersey to Atlanta at nine years old, recalling how his father emphasized the importance of perseverance in business.
Bret’s father’s strong work ethic led him to start his own mowing business as a teenager. This venture was so successful, he earned enough to buy a moped. Now, he aims to impart similar values to his children. He also mentioned his equally driven father-in-law, Paul Hills, stating that their experiences taught him the significance of hard work.
In 2024, Bret Baier’s son, Paul, underwent a frightening health scare during a regular check-up when a golf ball-sized aneurysm was detected near his heart, potentially life-threatening if it had burst. This marked his fifth open-heart surgery at just 16 years old, and Bret was the one to inform Paul of the situation.
Initially, Paul thought Bret was joking about the surgery, but he quickly understood the seriousness and confidently responded, “Okay, let’s do what we need to do,” as shared with People. Bret stated it was emotional to see his son wheeled away for another surgery and he felt anxious throughout the waiting period for the procedure.
Fortunately, the surgery went well, and Paul returned home after five days. Bret expressed heartfelt thanks to the medical team, stating, “We feel blessed they identified the issue and took care of it,” he told ET. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the doctors and nurses who saved his son’s life.
Bret Experiences Tensions During Interview with Kamala Harris
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In an interview with Kamala Harris, held just before the 2024 elections, Bret Baier faced criticism for his interviewing style. He reportedly interrupted the candidate multiple times, was deemed overly aggressive, and even issued an apology for making a significant mistake during the discussion.
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MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski criticized a recent interview, suggesting it was meant to provide insight into Kamala Harris’s presidential plans, but instead turned into an awkward and insincere exchange dominated by the host’s bias towards a single viewer. This sentiment seems widely shared among more liberal media commentators.
Although Bret Baier did not apologize for his approach towards Harris, he later admitted he had “made a mistake.” This came after Harris addressed Donald Trump’s remarks about deploying the National Guard to confront “radical left lunatics,” and when challenged with an unrelated video clip, she corrected Baier respectfully, asserting it wasn’t an accurate representation of Trump’s statements.
Questions Arise Over Bret’s Credibility
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Concerns about Bret Baier’s credibility emerged in 2022 following allegations in a book claiming he requested Fox News retract its Arizona call for Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The authors, Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, suggested that Baier was anxious the announcement would alienate the channel’s Republican audience.
In a leaked email, Baier expressed alarm that Trump’s campaign was becoming increasingly frustrated with the network’s coverage. He suggested that reversing the Arizona call, despite potential backlash, would be beneficial for maintaining audience loyalty.
Furthermore, Baier was further scrutinized after text messages with Tucker Carlson surfaced, where he admitted he had been advocating for more caution with election calls, indicating a priority on audience perception over journalistic integrity.
Bret’s Surprising Defense of a Controversial Mentor
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Bret Baier faced backlash during a 2016 appearance on “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” for defending Roger Ailes in light of sexual harassment allegations. He conveyed personal experiences with Ailes, calling him supportive during his son’s medical challenges, claiming the accusations were unexpected.
However, as more women, including Megyn Kelly, came forward with similar claims against Ailes, Baier struggled with the implications of his defense of someone he respected for many years. He later expressed regret, acknowledging the personal conflict he faced while trying to comprehend the severity of the situation.
Baier clarified that his supportive remarks stemmed from his personal interactions with Ailes and that, upon learning of the allegations, he felt deep sadness for the victims, which soon shifted to anger over the misconduct that occurred.
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Bret Baier’s Pitch for a Sunday Show Was Ignored by Fox News
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Bret Baier, a trusted figure at Fox News since 1998, has faced moments of feeling underappreciated in his role. Despite his long tenure, his contributions haven’t always received the recognition they deserve.
Back in 2020, Baier proposed a special one-hour program for Sundays to tackle misinformation surrounding the presidential election, largely fueled by Donald Trump. He thought that it would be a crucial platform for Fox to validate its audience’s concerns while offering factual information. However, his idea failed to gain traction among the network’s leadership.
Reportedly, the executives failed to respond to his proposal directly. An anonymous source indicated that the network had shifted focus, making it too late to pursue the topic, especially after the January 6 events. Consequently, Baier ceased further discussions about the show.
Bret Recalls Life-Threatening Moments in Iraq
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During his six years as Fox News’ Pentagon correspondent, Bret Baier traveled to over 74 countries, with frequent trips to Iraq. One particular journey heightened his sense of danger.
Baier recounted a frightening experience while driving near an airport that had been targeted by bombs. With security detail previously in the SAS, he felt the adrenaline during the high-speed drive, despite wearing protective gear.
He vividly remembered questioning the silence of his security team about the dangers of the road. Finally, one guard ominously suggested that road trips were like a game of bingo, implying attacks were a frequent risk. The host admitted that he approached his destination in such fear that he thought it would be miraculous if he had made it without an accident from sheer fright.
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