VIEWERS called on Fox News to give host Bill Melugin a permanent gig after stepping in for one of his co-stars on Thursday morning.

Melugin filled in for Bill Hemmer, who was absent from America’s Newsroom, and made such a great impression that fans went on social media to demand he be on the program all the time.

“I really like Bill Melugin,” wrote one person on X. “He is such a breath of fresh air!”

Another viewer asked Fox to consider having Melugin on permanently, calling him a “professional.”

“Bill Melugin is filling in on FOX as an anchor this morning. They need to give that guy a regular spot,” wrote a third person.

“Do your organization a favor @FoxNews and give Melugin more airtime!”

Other viewers also praised Melugin’s looks, with one person calling him “very handsome” and another person writing that he had a “gorgeous head of hair.”

“Bill Melugin, you are very impressive!” wrote another viewer, adding that Melugin seemed to hold his own with Fox News vets like Martha McCallum and Dana Perino.

“You definitely fit right in! You’re very wise in your comments and pushback!”

DUKING IT OUT

Melugin sat down with Perino to speak with political analyst Brit Hume, who called out Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

While speaking to the press on Wednesday morning, Hegseth blasted reporters for their coverage of Saturday’s bombings of Iran’s nuclear facilities, directed by President Donald Trump.

Hegseth claimed the media reported on leaked intel reports and failed to praise the president’s action, saying, “You want him not to be successful so bad, you have to cheer against the efficacy of the strikes.”

However, he turned his sights on Fox News Pentagon reporter, Jennifer Griffin, calling her “the worst, the one who misrepresents the most intentionally what the president says.”

Griffin appeared to be caught off guard by Hegseth calling her out by name, saying she reported on the mission with “great accuracy.”

Hegseth seemed to take back some of his harsh words, saying that he appreciated that Griffin acknowledged that this was the most “successful mission based on operational security that this department has done since you’ve been here.”

“So we’re looking at all aspects of intelligence and making sure we have a sense of what was where.”

Hume called Hegseth’s words an “attack” against Griffin while speaking to Perino and Melugin.

“An attack she certainly, in my view, did not deserve. Her professionalism, her knowledge, and her experience at the Pentagon is unmatched,” said Hume.

“And I have then, have had, and still have, the greatest regard for her.

“The attack on her was unfair!”