In a surprising turn of events, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes offered rare praise for Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, acknowledging her bold approach in challenging President Donald Trump’s inconsistent trade policies during their recent interview. On Friday’s All In With Chris Hayes, Hayes recapped Bartiromo’s interview, where she pressed Trump on his erratic tariff decisions, and was taken aback by her direct questioning.

Hayes, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, admitted, “Maria, I got to say – I’ve been a critic, but when you’re right, you’re right. That’s not clarity.” He further noted that Bartiromo’s insistence on clarity and predictability in trade policy resonated with CEOs and business leaders, who seek stability in uncertain times. The rare moment of praise for a Fox News anchor surprised many, as it highlighted the contrast between Bartiromo’s tough, journalistic questioning and Trump’s often chaotic responses.

The interview, which aired just days before the segment, focused on the economic uncertainty caused by the president’s fluctuating trade policies. Bartiromo’s pointed questions, particularly her sharp interjection of “That’s not clarity,” as Trump attempted to justify his actions, made it clear that she was dissatisfied with his lack of concrete answers. Her insistence on asking tough questions about tariffs and their effects on American businesses struck a chord with viewers, and Hayes’ acknowledgment of her bravery only fueled the conversation further.

While Hayes has long been critical of Trump’s policies, this moment marked a notable departure from his usual antagonism, as he commended Bartiromo for holding the president accountable, especially in a space where political figures are often shielded from such direct criticism. Hayes added that business leaders want stability and clarity, which he claimed was lacking in Trump’s approach to trade.

The exchange also illustrated the ongoing media divide in how political figures are handled by different networks, with Bartiromo’s hard-hitting style standing in stark contrast to Hayes’ commentary, which often leans more critical of the administration.

Despite their ideological differences, Hayes’ praise of Bartiromo’s interview approach shows that even in a polarized media landscape, there is room for mutual respect in holding powerful figures accountable. Whether this moment will lead to further collaboration or discussion between the two remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a rare instance of cross-network acknowledgment of good journalism.

Before the episode of All In With Chris Hayes came to an end, the left-leaning host offered his seemingly genuine reaction towards Bartiromo’s bold comments, stating: ‘Maria, I got to say – I’ve been a critic, but when you’re right, you’re right. That’s not clarity’

In a civil manner, Bartiromo insisted that CEOs want to see ‘predictability’ on international trade presented by the current administration rather than being left in the dark by Trump’s fluctuating tariff decisions, questioning the president on whether the business community will get clarity

Before the president could even finish his sentence, Bartiromo abruptly interjected, firmly stating: ‘That’s not clarity,’ seemingly unhappy with his flip-flop response

‘I mean, the major reason being unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to plan and invest and hire and do anything!’

Hayes has made headlines dozens of times over recent years for blasting Trump’s handling of major events and nationwide issues.

In January, both Hayes and his co-host Rachel Maddow launched blistering attacks during the network’s coverage of Trump’s inauguration after figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook were invited.

While Maddow took issue with the tech billionaires in attendance, Hayes found fault with the president’s mostly impromptu speech.

Enraged after seeing Cook next to Trump’s pick for head of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, Maddow infuriatingly reacted with a question posed to the American public.

‘How is this happening in America?’ she asked aloud.

After Trump took his oath and gave his speech, Hayes likened him to a ‘cult leader’ because of his fervent fanbase and rhetoric.

The commander-in-chief issued a brutal takedown of the network just days later, vowing that Maddow would soon ‘be off the air.’

‘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 to his Truth Social account.

Hayes also reacted to Trump and JD Vance’s attack on Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last month, declaring on-air on MSNBC that the president had ‘irreparably destroyed’ world older during the blowup.

‘Today, Donald Trump irreparably destroyed the 80-year-old post World War II international order,’ the host said.