Newsmax didn’t go quite as nuts as others in the right-wing media about destroying Hunter Biden for the sin of being his father’s son, but it did have its moments — for instance, Gavin Wax insisting that a Russian spy would take Hunter down and James Hirsen declaring that Hunter is a much more nefarious criminal than Donald Trump. When Hunter pushed back on a congressional subpoena in late 2023, Newsmax gave space to right-wing talking heads complaining about it:
- Rep. Comer: Hunter Biden Doesn’t ‘Dictate’ Subpoena Terms
- Rep. Steube to Newsmax: More Power to Compel Hunter Testimony
- Rep. Burchett to Newsmax: DOJ Would Protect Hunter Biden
- Rep. Meuser to Newsmax: Jail for Hunter If He Doesn’t Heed Demand
In June, Newsmax gave airtime to Hunter’s former partner, Lunden Roberts, to help her cash in on her relationship with him by promoting her new book about it — and, of course, boost her right-wing cred by complaining that President Biden had yet to acknowledge his granddaughter.
After President Biden pardoned his son, Newsmax led things off with a wire article about the pardon and Biden’s statement about it. Then came the torrent of outrage from right-wing talking heads (and selected others similarly eager to bash):
- Fmr Clinton Staffer Mark Penn: ‘Disgraceful Pardon’
- Jonathan Turley Calls Out Biden’s Campaign Lie on Hunter Pardon
- Trump Blasts Hunter Pardon: Nothing for ‘J-6 Hostages?’
- Colo. Dem Gov. Polis: Biden Put Family Ahead of US With Pardon
- Corey Lewandowski to Newsmax: Biden ‘Lied to the American People’
- Speaker: Hunter Biden’s Pardon ‘Abuse’ of Justice System
- Rep. Van Drew to Newsmax: Biden Pardon Hypocritical
- Dershowitz to Newsmax: Pardoning Son Not Biden’s Top Mistake
- Rep. Comer to Newsmax: Pardon Won’t Halt Probe Into Evidence
- Joe diGenova to Newsmax: Biden Pardoned Co-conspirator
- Rep. Alford to Newsmax: Trump’s ‘Janitorial Staff’ to Clean Up ‘Biden Crime Family’ Slime
- Rep. Lawler to Newsmax: Hunter Can’t Hide Behind 5th Amendment
- Rep. Russell Fry to Newsmax: ‘Most Sweeping’ Pardon Since Nixon ‘Absolutely Ridiculous
- Alan Dershowitz to Newsmax: Biden Blundered With Pardon
- Rep. Andy Harris to Newsmax: Biden Pardon Unprecedented
- Rep. Laurel Lee to Newsmax: Biden Pardon Doesn’t Cover Civil
- Rep. Davidson to Newsmax: Hunter Biden Pardon Was Expected
- Rep. Comer to Newsmax: Hunter’s Pardon Confirms Republicans’ Claims
That was joined by calls for Biden to pardon Donald Trump:
In addition, an article by the apparently unironically named Charlie McCarthy rehashed “10 Times WH, Biden Denied Hunter Would Be Pardoned,” and an article by Solange Reyner cited “experts” to claim that the pardon “looks like the one Gerald Ford gave Richard Nixon in 1974.” Newsmax even brought back a clearly bitter Lunden Roberts to take more shots at her ex in a TV appearance, though she actually supported the pardon.