Bret Baier Provides Huge Update After Phone Call from Trump
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran on Saturday carried added significance because they occurred after sunrise, a time when U.S. aircraft would normally be more visible and potentially more vulnerable to Iranian defenses. Baier shared the details during an appearance on “America’s Newsroom,” where he discussed the latest developments in the ongoing campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, as U.S. and Israeli forces continue targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
Baier explained that he had just spoken directly with President Trump, who expressed satisfaction with how the operation was progressing, while also acknowledging the loss of life. According to Baier, Trump said the campaign was moving faster than expected and that U.S. forces were ahead of their projected timeline. The president emphasized that the intelligence gathered prior to the operation had been “truly amazing” and played a major role in the speed and precision of the strikes.
Baier also relayed Trump’s comments about leadership losses within Iran. Trump reportedly indicated that as many as 49 Iranian leaders had been eliminated early in the operation, a result that surprised officials who believed it might take weeks to degrade Iran’s command structure. Trump suggested that the rapid removal of leadership figures created uncertainty within Iran and complicated succession planning. According to Baier, Trump noted that some replacement figures were now being considered who were largely unknown, even within Iran itself, highlighting the depth of the disruption.
The timing of the strikes also stood out. Baier said Trump described how Iranian leaders had gathered in the morning, believing they were safe because attacks typically occur under cover of darkness. Instead, the morning strikes demonstrated the extent of U.S. intelligence capabilities and operational confidence.
Trump also referenced Venezuela as a possible template for future developments, which Baier interpreted as an indication that the administration had considered potential political outcomes inside Iran. The president praised military leadership, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, for their execution of the operation and recent public briefings.
Baier concluded that Trump believes the campaign is progressing faster than anticipated and that the original four-week timeline for weakening Iran’s leadership may be significantly shortened.
Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth emphasized Monday that the operation remains tightly focused. He outlined objectives that include destroying Iranian missile capabilities, dismantling missile production facilities, weakening naval forces, and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Hegseth stressed that the campaign would not become an open-ended conflict, distinguishing it from past nation-building efforts and describing it as a clear, decisive mission with defined goals.