Bret Baier’s Zelensky interview draws over 6 million viewers, beating broadcast nightly news shows

dominated Friday evening’s ratings and even outdrew the nightly news programs of two broadcast networks.

attracted 6.2 million viewers and 775,000 in the key 25-54 advertising demographic during the telecast’s first half-hour, which is when Baier’s interview with Zelensky aired. The interview peaked with 6.4 million viewers and 855,000 in the demo during the 6-6:15 p.m. ET quarter.

as “disrespectful” while accusing him of not thanking the administration.

Despite the fireworks in the Oval Office, which culminated in Trump booting Zelensky from the White House without signing a mineral rights deal, the Ukrainian leader told Baier that he remained hopeful that his relationship with the president could be salvaged.

“It’s more than two presidents. The historical relations, strong relations, between our people,” Zelensky said. “This is the most important—and of course [we’re] thankful to the president and to Congress—but first of all to your people. Your people helped to save our people.”

found itself slightly behind Baier’s newsmaking interview.

in recent weeks.

– which also didn’t have the benefit of an exclusive Zelensky interview – were below their average ratings.

pulled in a total audience of 5.7 million viewers and 661,000 in the 25-54 demographic. Baier’s show, which is averaging 3.5 million viewers and 414,000 in the advertising demo in 2025 so far, was up 63 percent in total viewership and 60 percent in the key demo. It was also the second highest rated 6 p.m. hour in Fox News history, ranking only behind the 2017 Trump inauguration.

following Trump’s victory.

— it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a number of Trump administration officials and Cabinet members have appeared on Baier’s show in the past few weeks.

The record-setting ratings that Fox News is experiencing due to Trump’s return to office prompted Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch to say during a recent conference that the right-wing network should be considered more than a cable news channel.

the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference on Monday.

“In January and February, we were the number two broadcast network, right? Equivalent to the number two broadcast network at Fox News,” he added. “Despite having a much smaller universe in cable. In January, we were only beaten by NBC, and in February we were only beaten by CBS. And so that’s how we view it. And that’s how we’re able to drive, frankly, the affiliate revenue growth that we’ve achieved.”

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