Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Maria Bartiromo

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 1, 2026

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Maria Bartiromo.

Maria Bartiromo is a prominent American journalist, author, and news anchor known for her conservative viewpoints. She currently hosts Mornings with Maria and Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street on Fox Business, as well as Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo on Fox News. Her career has largely focused on financial reporting and analysis, establishing her as a recognizable figure in the business news landscape.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2006: Controversy Over Executive Relationships

In 2006, controversy arose regarding Maria Bartiromo's social relationships with some of the executives she covered, including overseas trips, leading to scrutiny of her journalistic integrity.

November 8, 2020: Bartiromo's on-air conversation with Sidney Powell

On November 8, 2020, Maria Bartiromo's unsourced on-air conversation with Sidney Powell largely started Fox News' false claims about the election, with Bartiromo not fact-checking or asking for evidence.

November 2020: Post-Election Interview with Trump

In late November 2020, after Donald Trump lost his bid for reelection, Maria Bartiromo conducted the first post-election interview with Trump, backing his false claims of election fraud and his attempt to overturn the election results. She was criticized for not asking Trump to substantiate his claims.

December 2020: Smartmatic threatens legal action against Fox News

In December 2020, Smartmatic sent a letter to Fox News threatening legal action and demanding retractions for baselessly accusing them of conspiring to rig the election.

2020: Defamation Lawsuit

In 2020, Maria Bartiromo was named in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit by Smartmatic and the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network defamation lawsuit for broadcasting false statements about the plaintiff company's voting machines.

January 2021: Bartiromo hosts Peter Navarro, falsely claims election irregularities

In January 2021, Maria Bartiromo hosted Peter Navarro, who falsely claimed Trump won the election, and Bartiromo concurred, falsely claiming there were irregularities in the election. Later in January 2021, she falsely claimed that Democrats wore MAGA clothing and were behind the storming of the Capitol.

February 2021: Smartmatic files defamation suit against Fox News and hosts

In February 2021, Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News, three hosts including Maria Bartiromo, and two network guests.

July 2021: Bartiromo references Ashli Babbitt as a "wonderful woman"

In July 2021, Maria Bartiromo referenced Ashli Babbitt, who was shot during the storming of the U.S. Capitol, as a "wonderful woman" who "went to peaceful protest."

November 2021: Barr's Account of Bartiromo's Call

In November 2021, Jonathan Karl reported that in November 2020, Maria Bartiromo called attorney general Bill Barr to complain that the DOJ hadn't done anything to stop the Democrats from stealing the election, to which Barr responded sternly.

March 2022: Defamation suit against Fox News can proceed

In March 2022, a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that the defamation suit against Fox News could proceed, with claims against Bartiromo allowed to stand.

April 2023: Lawsuit Discovery Phase

As of April 2023, the Smartmatic defamation lawsuit involving Maria Bartiromo was in the discovery phase.

October 2024: Bartiromo promotes story about Arizona election integrity

In October 2024, Maria Bartiromo promoted a story from The Gateway Pundit, a far-right fake news website, claiming that Arizona's Secretary of State was trying to hide an election integrity problem.