Fox's Bartiromo mocked by both sides for getting Kennedy Center case wrong: 'Full-time PR'

Fox's Maria Bartiromo drew ridicule from journalists and conservatives alike after posting a lengthy defense of Donald Trump's Kennedy Center name change that got the basic legal facts wrong — and appeared to pass along opposition research from Laura Loomer targeting the judge's wife.

Bartiromo claimed the Kennedy Center board had already approved adding Trump's name to the building and accused the judge who ordered it removed of being part of a "Get Trump" conspiracy. "The way these judges go after Donald Trump is absolutely sick and the history books will reveal how sick and un-American they are," she wrote, before pivoting to information she attributed to Loomer about Judge Christopher Cooper's wife, attorney Dorothy Ames Jeffress, claiming Jeffress had previously represented Lisa Page and Nancy Pelosi.

Paul Farhi, the former Washington Post media reporter, cut straight to the problem. "Except the board doesn't have the authority to change the name," he wrote. "Congress made that clear in enacting the law establishing the KenCen. Which is exactly what the judge ruled yesterday."

Farhi wasn't alone. Pradheep Shanker, a radiologist and conservative commentator, sided with the court. "Only Congressional action can change the name," he wrote. "Trump is wrong and the Judge is right about the law."

Gregg Nunziata, a former Republican Senate Judiciary counsel, offered two words in response to Bartiromo's post: "Noted journalist."

John Harwood, the former CNN and NBC correspondent, simply replied with a 🤪 emoji.

Carla Marinucci, a veteran political journalist, was the most direct. "Used to be a journalist," she wrote. "Now full-time PR."