In August, Newsmax went on a junket to Israel that was largely self-promotional through latching on to right-wing narratives about the country, as hyped in an Aug. 11 article:
Newsmax is set to host its fourth annual Fourth of July celebration in Israel Wednesday, Aug. 13, bringing together an elite gathering of political, business, and media leaders.
The high-profile event takes place at at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, which has become a highlight of the summer social calendar in Israel.
Newsmax holds this reception each year to celebrate the enduring friendship and shared democratic values between the United States and Israel.
[…]The Fourth of July event in Jerusalem is more than a holiday party — it is a symbolic expression of the close alliance between the United States and Israel.
Attendees will include senior government officials, ambassadors, leading business executives, influential journalists, and thought leaders.
The evening will feature tributes to the democratic ideals, innovation, and resilience that both nations champion on the world stage.
The article then reminded us that this was, in fact, a self-promotional junket:
Newsmax went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NMAX) earlier this year and has become a major U.S. news brand in recent years, according to a Reuters Institute study.
Known for its robust political coverage, in-depth interviews, and live breaking news, Newsmax has become a trusted source for millions worldwide, including in the Middle East.
Its international growth reflects the network’s commitment to delivering diverse perspectives and covering stories of significance to both American and global audiences.
The centerpiece was a speech given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gushed over (with a large helping of self-promotion and sucking up) in an Aug. 13 article:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful and wide-ranging speech Wednesday at Newsmax’s fourth annual celebration in Jerusalem, declaring that “most Americans” reject Hamas’ “lies” and stand with Israel in its ongoing battle against what he called “the barbarians at the gate.”
The prime minister’s appearance was at a critical moment as Israel appears to be on the brink of a major military action in Gaza.
Broadcast live across the Newsmax network, Netanyahu used the extended address to link Israel’s current security struggle with the shared values and historical alliances between Israel and the United States.
Major Israeli and U.S. political, media, and business leaders joined the celebration, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Alan Dershowitz, and Malcolm Hoenlein with the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.
The prime minister opened his speech praising Newsmax for its coverage.
“Thank you, Newsmax, for helping us on the eighth-front war: seven fronts against Iran and its proxies, the eighth front — the battle for truth,” Netanyahu said.
“And, Newsmax, you have let the truth circle the globe against the lies that have circled it before and continue to do so.
“There’s only one way to beat the lies, and that’s with the truth.”
Netanyahu was introduced by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, who delivered a strong introduction, framing the prime minister’s leadership as historic.
“It is my profound honor to introduce a man whose life’s work has been the defense of his people, the preservation of freedom, and the unflinching pursuit of truth,” Ruddy began.
Ruddy praised Netanyahu for confronting “two of the gravest threats to Israel’s security”: the growing danger of Iran’s nuclear program and the persistent menace from Gaza.
He compared Netanyahu’s actions to Winston Churchill’s stand against appeasement before World War II.
this was followed by an interview with Netanyahu conducted by Newsmax host Carl Higbie, which Newsmax squeezed three articles out of:
- Netanyahu to Newsmax: Endgame Is to Free Gazans From Hamas Tyranny
- Netanyahu to Newsmax: If Anyone Can Bring Peace to Ukraine, It’s Trump
- Netanyahu to Newsmax: Israel, US Strikes Clear Way for Iran Regime Change
Newsmax also made sure to devote an article to how Netanyahu’s speech was received, making sure to highlight his promotion of Newsmax:
Y Net called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at Newsmax’s fourth annual Fourth of July celebration Wednesday “fiery.”
Netanyahu’s office posted it to X, and RT did, too. One of the mission participants, Cheryl Chumley, posted a photo of the Newsmax wreath at Nova field in Israel, the site of Hamas atrocities.
Netanyahu’s appearance at the Newsmax celebration, where he declared that most Americans reject Hamas’ lies and recognize that Israel stands for the same values as America, has grabbed headlines and international attention.
He also thanked Newsmax for its role in countering misinformation.
“There’s one way to defeat lies and that’s the truth. Thank you for standing for the truth,” he said. “You’ve helped in the war on the seventh front against Iran and the eighth: the war for truth. You’ve led the truth globally against persistent lies.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called Newsmax one of the leading media networks in the United States.
It’s odd that Newsmax would hype how RT picked up Netanyahu’s speech, given that it’s a Russian propaganda out that was recently caught covertly funding right-wing influencers in America.