Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Maria Bartiromo

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

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

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2006: Controversy Over Socializing with Executives

In 2006-07, Maria Bartiromo faced controversy regarding her social relationships with some of the executives she covered, including overseas trips, which raised questions about journalistic integrity.

2016: Commentary on Wall Street Reactions and Pro-Trump Stance

During the 2016 general election, Maria Bartiromo commented on Wall Street's potential reactions to each candidate and took an increasingly pro-Trump stance, repeating trolling Internet posts attacking Hillary Clinton.

2016: Obama Administration Unmasking Allegations

In 2016, Maria Bartiromo alleged that requests to unmask the identity of Michael Flynn by Obama administration officials was the biggest political scandal.

2017: Advocacy for Trump Administration

After Donald Trump became president in 2017, Maria Bartiromo became an advocate for the Trump administration, often repeating talking points and giving friendly interviews.

November 8, 2020: Interview with Sidney Powell

On November 8, 2020, Maria Bartiromo's unsourced on-air conversation with Sidney Powell largely started the network's false and potentially defamatory claims about the election.

November 2020: Interview with Donald Trump

In November 2020, after 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.

December 2020: Threat of Legal Action by Smartmatic

In December 2020, attorneys for Smartmatic threatened legal action against Fox News and its hosts, including Maria Bartiromo, for broadcasting baseless allegations of election rigging.

2020: Involvement in Defamation Lawsuit

In 2020, Maria Bartiromo was named in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit by Smartmatic for promoting unproven conspiracy theories about the 2020 United States presidential election. She was also involved in the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network defamation lawsuit for broadcasting false statements, which resulted in a $787.5 million settlement for Fox News.

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

In January 2021, Maria Bartiromo hosted Trump economic advisor Peter Navarro, where he falsely claimed Trump won the election. Bartiromo concurred, falsely claiming election irregularities and, in a later broadcast on January 19th, falsely claimed Democrats wore MAGA clothing and stormed the Capitol.

February 2021: Smartmatic Filed Defamation Suit

In February 2021, Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News, Maria Bartiromo, and other hosts for broadcasting false statements about the company's voting machines.

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

In November 2021, Jonathan Karl's book, Betrayal, reported that Maria Bartiromo called Attorney General Bill Barr in November 2020 to complain about the DOJ's inaction in stopping Democrats from stealing the election, leading to a heated exchange.

March 2022: Smartmatic Lawsuit Proceeded

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

April 2023: Smartmatic Lawsuit Discovery Phase

As of April 2023, the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Maria Bartiromo and Fox Corporation by Smartmatic was in the discovery phase.

October 2024: Bartiromo promotes fake news story

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.