MSNBC host Chris Hayes, known for his sharp critiques of conservative media, surprised
viewers with an unexpected and rare compliment for Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo. During a segment on All In with Chris Hayes on Friday, Hayes acknowledged Bartiromo for her direct and assertive approach while interviewing former President Donald Trump, particularly in her pointed questioning of his controversial trade policies.
Hayes, who has frequently criticized both Trump and the conservative news network, shifted
his stance—if only momentarily—to credit Bartiromo for challenging Trump on the economic uncertainty created by his administration’s shifting stance on tariffs. The United States’ trade relationships with key partners such as Mexico, Canada, and China had been strained under Trump’s leadership, particularly due to his unpredictable tariff decisions. While Fox News and other right-wing media outlets often take a supportive stance toward Trump’s policies, Bartiromo took a different approach, pressing the former president for clarity on an issue that has deeply impacted American businesses.
During his Friday broadcast, Hayes played a clip from Bartiromo’s recent Fox Business interview with Trump, conducted inside the White House. The interview quickly turned into a discussion about the former president’s handling of tariffs, a topic that has generated significant backlash from both political and business leaders. In the clip, Bartiromo reminded Trump of a previous interview in which he had justified his tariff decisions by stating, “I did it because I could.” She went on to press him about the uncertainty that these policies have caused for business leaders who need stability in international trade agreements.
In response, Trump attempted to defend his stance, suggesting that tariffs might increase over time. “Well, I think so,” Trump began, before trailing off into a vague justification of his trade decisions. “But you know, the tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up. And you know, I don’t know if it’s predictability, I think—”
Before Trump could finish his thought, Bartiromo cut in abruptly, stating firmly: “That’s not clarity.”
The moment was striking because, while Bartiromo has generally been viewed as a Trump-friendly journalist, her willingness to push back on this issue stood out. Trump, not one to back down easily, continued his defense, arguing that global economic forces had “ripped off” the United States for decades. “They’ve been taking money away from the United States,” he claimed. “And all we’re doing is getting some of it back. And we’re going to treat our country fairly.” He continued, insisting that the U.S. had been exploited by foreign companies and nations:
“This country has been ripped off from every nation in the world, every company outside the world. We’ve been ripped off at levels never seen before. And all we’re going to do is get it back. We’re going to get a lot of it back. We’re not going to let people take advantage of us anymore.”
Despite Trump’s characteristic defiance, Bartiromo’s challenge did not go unnoticed. Hayes, in his recap of the interview, highlighted the Fox anchor’s ability to confront the former president on an issue where even many conservative media figures have hesitated to push back.
“In a safe-space interview with Fox anchor Maria Bartiromo, the Trump-friendly host gently pressed him for just the tiniest bit of clarity on his erratic trade policy and the harm it is causing American businesses,” Hayes said.
After airing the segment, Hayes expressed his appreciation for Bartiromo’s willingness to challenge Trump. While he admitted to being a frequent critic of hers, he conceded that she had raised an important point.
“Maria, I got to say—I’ve been a critic, but when you’re right, you’re right. That’s not clarity.”
Hayes continued, elaborating on the importance of predictability in economic policies. “Here’s the thing, she’s not wrong about what CEOs want to see,” he said. “I mean, every businessperson thrives on some stability, and most people generally hate this type of chaos.” He added that erratic policies create major obstacles for business planning. “The major reason being unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to plan and invest and hire and do anything!”
Hayes’ comments stood out because he has built a reputation for fiercely opposing Trump and his policies. Over the years, he has repeatedly criticized the former president’s handling of major events, both domestic and international. His coverage of Trump’s administration has often been highly critical, making this moment of reluctant praise for Bartiromo all the more notable.
Earlier this year, Hayes and fellow MSNBC host Rachel Maddow made headlines with their coverage of Trump’s inauguration, particularly when figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Apple CEO Tim Cook were spotted among the attendees. Maddow voiced her discontent with the presence of tech billionaires, while Hayes was particularly critical of Trump’s impromptu speech, which he likened to the rhetoric of a “cult leader.”
Following the inauguration, Trump retaliated against the network, taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, to slam both Maddow and Hayes. “MSNBC IS CLOSE TO DEATH. CNN HAS REACHED THE BOTTOM. This is a good thing. They are the Enemy of the people!” Trump wrote in a late-night post.
More recently, Hayes also condemned Trump’s handling of foreign relations, particularly an Oval Office meeting with Republican Senator J.D. Vance, in which both men criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Hayes reacted strongly to the discussion, claiming that Trump had permanently damaged international stability.
“Today, Donald Trump irreparably destroyed the 80-year-old post-World War II international order,” Hayes declared on MSNBC.
Given Hayes’ history of staunch opposition to Trump and his allies, his recognition of Bartiromo’s firm questioning was unexpected. While it remains to be seen if this signals a broader shift in conservative media’s approach to Trump’s policies, it was a rare instance of a Fox News host breaking ranks—even slightly—with the former president.
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