Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Laura Ingraham

Public opinion and media debates around Laura Ingraham—discover key moments of controversy.

Laura Ingraham is an American conservative television host, most notably recognized as the host of 'The Ingraham Angle' on Fox News Channel since 2017. She is also the editor-in-chief of LifeZette. Before her television career, Ingraham hosted the nationally syndicated radio program 'The Laura Ingraham Show'. She is a prominent figure in conservative media.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1984: Controversial Articles in The Dartmouth Review

In 1984, during her tenure as editor-in-chief of the independent campus newspaper The Dartmouth Review, Laura Ingraham sent a reporter undercover to a campus Gay Students Association meeting and later published a transcript of the meeting, including the names of the attendees, describing them as "cheerleaders for latent campus sodomites."

2003: Advocated for the Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Laura Ingraham advocated for the invasion of Iraq.

2013: Opposition to 2013 US Senate Immigration Reform Plan

In 2013, Laura Ingraham opposed the proposed bipartisan 2013 US Senate comprehensive immigration reform plan.

September 2014: Claim About Obama and Ebola Outbreak

In September 2014, Laura Ingraham claimed that then-President Barack Obama sent assistance to Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and exposed Americans to the virus because of his guilt over "colonialism".

2014: Anti-Immigration Views Expressed

In 2014, Laura Ingraham said that allowing more immigrant workers to come to the United States would be "obscene to the American experience".

2016: Iraq War Considered a Mistake

During the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Laura Ingraham said she considered the Iraq war a mistake, and criticized "Bushism" as Trump ran against Jeb Bush.

September 2017: Criticism of Trump on DREAMers Amnesty

In September 2017, amid reports that Trump was considering an agreement with Democrats on amnesty for approximately 800,000 DREAMers, Laura Ingraham criticized him, tweeting "When does American working class w/out real wage increase in 15yrs & who send their kids to overcrowded public schools get amnesty?"

February 2018: "Shut Up and Dribble" Controversy

In February 2018, Laura Ingraham said NBA players LeBron James and Kevin Durant should "shut up and dribble" after James called comments by Trump "laughable and scary".

February 2018: Ingraham warns Trump against supporting gun control

In February 2018, Laura Ingraham warned Trump not to support gun control, stating that he wouldn't have to worry about his 2020 campaign if he did.

March 2018: Sponsors boycott Ingraham's show after David Hogg remarks

In March 2018, Laura Ingraham's show was boycotted by 27 sponsors after she ridiculed David Hogg, a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, leading to a drop in advertising time. In response, Hogg posted a list of Ingraham's advertisers and called for a boycott, accusing her of cyberbullying.

June 18, 2018: Family Separation Policy "Summer Camps" Comment

On June 18, 2018, Laura Ingraham defended the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" family separation policy for children of illegal immigrants, comparing the children's facilities to "summer camps" that "resemble boarding schools".

July 2018: Criticism of Kevin Yoder's support for Democratic Bill

In July 2018, Laura Ingraham harshly criticized Republican congressman Kevin Yoder after he expressed support for a Democratic bill that rolled back Attorney General Jeff Sessions' order that immigration judges not be allowed to grant asylum to asylum seekers fleeing domestic abuse or gang violence in their home country. She called on the congressman "to stop selling out the Trump agenda".

August 9, 2018: Defense of Comments on Demographic Changes

On August 9, 2018, in The Ingraham Angle monologue, Laura Ingraham stated she was not talking about "race or ethnicity" and went on to say, "There is something slipping away in this country and it's not about race or ethnicity. It's what was once a common understanding by both parties that American citizenship is a privilege, and one that at a minimum requires respect for the rule of law and loyalty to our constitution."

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August 2018: Comments on Changing Racial Demographics

In August 2018, Laura Ingraham stated "some parts of the country it does seem like the America we know and love doesn't exist anymore. Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people..."

October 2018: Companies shun Ingraham's show despite increased ratings

As of October 2018, companies were continuing to shun Laura Ingraham's show despite the increased ratings following a boycott in March.

October 2018: Urged Audience to Vote Republican

In October 2018, Laura Ingraham urged her audience to vote Republican in the upcoming midterm elections, saying that Democrats "want to replace you, the American voters, with newly amnestied citizens and an ever-increasing number of chain migrants."

May 2019: Showing of Graphic of "Censored" Voices

In May 2019, Laura Ingraham showed a graphic on her show of "prominent voices censored on social media", which included "people who believe in border enforcement, people who believe in national sovereignty." Among those listed was Paul Nehlen, known for making numerous anti-Semitic remarks.

June 2019: Mocking reports of Trump delaying D-Day commemoration

In June 2019, Laura Ingraham mocked reports that Donald Trump had delayed his participation in D-Day commemoration activities to sit for an interview with her, dismissing them as "patently false—fake news".

June 2019: Unsubstantiated Claims About Asylum Seekers and Ebola

In June 2019, Laura Ingraham spread unsubstantiated claims that asylum seekers to the United States may carry the Ebola virus.

May 2020: Ingraham criticizes face mask requirements

In May 2020, Laura Ingraham criticized requirements that people wear face masks in public as a way to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

June 15, 2020: FDA revokes Emergency Approval of hydroxychloroquine

On June 15, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the Emergency Approval of hydroxychloroquine (and chloroquine).

October 2020: Ingraham spreads misinformation about New Zealand's pandemic response

In October 2020, Laura Ingraham and her guest Victor Davis Hanson spread misinformation about New Zealand's response to the pandemic on her show, referring to managed isolation facilities as "camps".

2020: Criticism for Supporting Drew Brees' Statements

In 2020, Laura Ingraham was criticized for supporting Drew Brees' statements after he criticized protesters who kneeled during the U.S. national anthem, a stance seen as inconsistent with her earlier criticism of African-American athletes.

January 6, 2021: Ingraham advances antifa conspiracy theory, texts Meadows

Following the attack on the United States Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, Laura Ingraham advanced the conspiracy theory that people associated with antifa were responsible. During the attack, she texted Mark Meadows, urging Trump to tell people in the Capitol to go home.

July 27, 2021: Ingraham ridicules Capitol Police

On July 27, 2021, Laura Ingraham ridiculed four members of the Capitol Police and D.C. Police who had responded to the January 6th insurrection, after they testified to House lawmakers.

2021: Suggested Getting Rid of Unemployment Benefits

In 2021, Laura Ingraham suggested getting rid of unemployment benefits for people capable of work.

September 2022: Criticism of Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Program

In September 2022, Laura Ingraham criticized the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness program, stating that her mother worked as a waitress until she was 73 to pay for Ingraham's loans.

2022: Ingraham criticizes DOJ and FBI over Mar-a-Lago search

In 2022, Laura Ingraham criticized the Justice Department and FBI for the search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, but suggested Republican voters might back another 2024 presidential candidate.

2024: Ingraham Suggests Republicans May Back Another Candidate

In 2022, Laura Ingraham suggested that Republican voters might "turn the page" and back another 2024 presidential candidate "if we can get someone who has all Trump's policies, who's not Trump".