Fox News’ Bret Baier: ‘No-Brainer’ To Stand Up For CNN After White House Banned Kaitlan Collins

After the White House barred CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins from a Rose Garden event after she asked President Donald Trump questions he didn’t like at a photo op, CNN received statements of support from a surprising source — Fox News. Both network president Jay Wallace and chief political Bret Baier stated that Fox News stood in solidarity with CNN and its right to access.

Appearing on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday night, Baier was asked about his statement, something Kimmel said was “reassuring.”

“It was a no-brainer,” Baier noted. “You know, I’m on the news side of the house and you have to stand for access. This is a credentialed person.”

Baier went on to bring up veteran correspondent Sam Donaldson and how his confrontational style with the Reagan White House, pointing out that he was never denied access by the Reagan administration. He also said it was to Fox’s credit that they “stood up right away,” calling it “instantaneous.”

The anchor was also asked if anything like that had happened to him and Baier recounted an instance during the early days of the Obama administration.

“In fact, when the Obama White House 2009, I had just taken over for Brit Hume as anchor, and they tried to deny Fox News a round-robin interview and CNN stood up and Jake Tapper said if Fox is not doing it we’re not doing it,” he told Kimmel. “And so, being a member of the White House press pool is something and I think we need to always stand for that.”

While the Fox news division made sure to strongly stand up for Collins right away, one of Baier’s colleagues felt the CNN reporter deserved to be banned. Shortly after Baier and Wallace released their statements, Fox Business host Lou Dobbs said the “president does insist on respect” and that it was “about time there were consequences for disrespectful behavior in the White House.”

Watch the clip above, via ABC.