Fox News host Maria Bartiromo faced criticism from journalists and commentators across the political spectrum after making inaccurate claims about a legal dispute involving the naming of the Kennedy Center.

In a social media post, Bartiromo defended former President Donald Trump’s reported effort to attach his name to the institution, asserting that the Kennedy Center board had already approved the change.She also accused a federal judge of acting out of political bias, describing the ruling against the change as part of a broader “Get Trump” effort.However, multiple observers quickly pointed out that her central claim was incorrect.

Legal experts and journalists emphasized that the authority to rename the Kennedy Center does not lie with its board but with Congress, as established by federal law.The judge’s ruling, they noted, simply upheld that legal framework.

Among those criticizing Bartiromo were former Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi and conservative commentator Pradheep Shanker, both of whom stated that the law clearly supports the court’s decision.The backlash was notable for its bipartisan nature.

Critics ranged from conservative legal figures, such as former Republican Senate Judiciary Committee counsel Gregg Nunziata, to mainstream political journalists like John Harwood and Carla Marinucci.Some responses were sarcastic or dismissive, reflecting frustration with what they viewed as a basic factual error.Marinucci went further, suggesting Bartiromo had shifted away from journalism toward partisan advocacy.

Additionally, Bartiromo drew scrutiny for referencing claims about the judge’s wife, reportedly sourced from activist Laura Loomer, which some critics saw as inappropriate or irrelevant to the legal issue.The episode highlights ongoing tensions around media accuracy, political bias, and the interpretation of legal authority in high-profile disputes.