What happened to Eric Bolling? Here's what we know about the Newsmax anchor's exit

Eric Bolling and Newsmax have parted ways after three years.

If you are not a devotee of far-right media, this might not mean much to you. In MAGA circles, however, it's a pretty big deal. Bolling was a prime-time host for the ultra-right-wing network; his show "The Balance" was one of Newsmax's most popular shows. The Daily Beast reported that Bolling and Newsmax reached a mutual agreement to end the show.

A statement on Bolling's website said, "After working together for three years to produce, present, and break news for the American people, it’s time for Eric to embark on new endeavors. Eric and Newsmax are grateful for their time together and proud of the work they have produced."

Hmm. That's one way of putting it. Another is that Bolling was a leading purveyor of misinformation and that Newsmax was the perfect outlet for him to practice his craft.

What is Newsmax?

If you haven't watched the network, and relatively few have lately, it's basically the answer to the question, "Fox News just doesn't love Donald Trump enough. Where can I find a network that loves him even more?"

That tactic worked for a time after the 2020 election after Fox News was the first network to report that Joe Biden had won Arizona, a victory that helped him secure the presidency. Trump sycophants briefly fled Fox News for outlets like Newsmax and One American News Network, or OANN, but eventually returned. Newsmax also enjoyed a temporary ratings bump after Fox News fired Tucker Carlson in April of 2023.

That's the sort of network Newsmax is. The network is scheduled to go to trial in September in a defamation case brought by Smartmatic, a voting-equipment company, that alleges that Newsmax's repeated false claims that Smartmatic's software altered votes in the 2020 election harmed its business.

Bolling previously worked at Fox News. He left the network in September 2017 after an investigation into allegations that he sent an unsolicited photo of male genitalia to female workers.

Bolling attacked Trump's conviction

Bolling spent most of his last Newsmax show on Thursday, May 30, railing against Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, after a jury in New York found Trump guilty of 34 felonies. Bolling made a big show of tossing away his prepared remarks and speaking "from the heart," which went about as you'd expect, calling the whole thing "insane," that kind of thing. He remained loyal to Trump, who he called his friend of decades.

Presumably, he will continue to fawn over the former president. Bolling didn't say specifically what his next move would be, but his website says an announcement is coming in the next few weeks.

"The fight to inform the American people will remain paramount for Eric as he takes his audience on a new path with new partners," it says on the site. The statement goes on to say, "With guests ranging from Kid Rock to President Trump, Eric looks forward to an election season guaranteed to keep us all on the edge of our seats."

Sounds like more of a threat than a promise.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What happened to Eric Bolling? Newsmax host leaves 'The Balance'