The Gateway Pundit
U.S. far-right
Background
Jim Hoft launched The Gateway Pundit as a solo blog in 2004 and grew it into a multi-writer operation, with his twin brother Joe Hoft contributing as a writer for years without an ownership stake. The site became a prominent pro-Trump outlet, amplifying 2020 election-fraud claims, including false statements about Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss and Dominion Voting Systems, which led to defamation lawsuits. Facing that litigation, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024; a federal judge dismissed the filing in July 2024, ruling it was made in 'bad faith' since the company was financially solvent. The Freeman/Moss defamation case was later settled on undisclosed terms. Media fact-checkers and press-freedom groups have repeatedly flagged the outlet for publishing unverified or false claims, particularly on elections, COVID-19, and Jan. 6, 2021. Despite this record, Hoft and reporters affiliated with the site gained White House press credentials during the Trump administration, and in 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Hoft in a First Amendment case against the federal government. The outlet continues to bill itself as one of the most-trafficked conservative sites in the country.
Sources
- The Gateway Pundit — Wikipedia
- Who Owns Conservative Website The Gateway Pundit? — Market Realist
- Who Owns The Gateway Pundit? Ownership and Legal Battles — LegalClarity
- Far-right Gateway Pundit sought bankruptcy protection in 'bad faith' to avoid 2020 defamation suits, judge rules — CNN Business
- Gateway Pundit files for bankruptcy after election conspiracy defamation lawsuits — NPR
- Settlement reached in Gateway Pundit defamation case, though details were not disclosed — Yahoo News
Profile compiled 2026-09-25; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.