Fox News host Laura Ingraham faced criticism after abruptly ending a discussion with a California gubernatorial candidate who highlighted that his Republican opponent endorses reparations.
During her show, The Ingraham Angle, Ingraham invited Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a gubernatorial contender, to talk about the heated race for governor.
Bianco, when asked about distinguishing factors among Democratic candidates, mentioned that his main Republican competitor, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, has openly backed reparations for Black Americans.
Bianco stated, “There really isn’t a difference,” referring to the Democratic candidates. “Unfortunately, even on the Republican side, Mr. Hilton has expressed his willingness to offer reparations in property. If we want sanity, I’m truly the only choice on that stage.”
Ingraham dismissed Bianco’s assertion regarding Hilton, responding, “I’ve never heard him say that, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Despite Ingraham’s dismissal, viewers quickly took to social media to note that Hilton had indeed expressed support for reparations during his tenure as a Fox News commentator.
‘We will never, never, never achieve racial harmony in this country until we acknowledge these truths as the first step in a process of national reconciliation. I use all those words deliberately,’ he said during a 2019 episode of his show, The Next Revolution.
‘We need a truth and reconciliation process here. And it should explicitly consider dramatic action to close the wealth and opportunity gap. And not just a pledge to avoid discrimination, but reparation for the cruelty of the past.’
Laura Ingraham cut off California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco who correctly pointed out that his Republican rival, Steve Hilton, supports reparations
Hilton spoke about supporting reparations for black Americans on his own Fox News show in 2019
Critics slammed Ingraham for claiming she had never heard Hilton support reparations, despite him making those comments on their shared network.
‘She’s an idiot. He absolutely talked about asset reparations,’ one person wrote on X.
‘Sometimes Ingraham shows herself a hack, and this interview was one of those times. Bianco is the smart choice for California, even if Trump said Hilton Hilton is a progressive dressed up as a conservative,’ wrote another.
A third person added, ‘So @IngrahamAngle will you issue an apology on air tomorrow for your CRUDE statement and error????’
‘Laura cuts everyone. She is unwatchable to me,’ wrote a fourth person.
‘That really upset me. Chad Bianco was my Sheriff in Riverside, CA. He is a stand-up guy. What Laura did was despicable,’ added a fifth.
The Daily Mail contacted The Ingraham Angle for comment.
Hilton, who is British, hosted The Next Revolution on Fox News from 2017 to 2023.
While the candidate field is largely crowded with Democrats in deep-blue California, Bianco and Hilton are the leading Republicans who have made headway in the polls
California puts all candidates on a single ballot, and the two with the most votes on primary day, June 2, go on to the November general election regardless of party
He moved to the United States in 2012 after serving as an advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron.
The London-born former advisor has more recently taken up residence on the ritzy San Francisco Peninsula, where venture capitalists and NBA superstars like Steph Curry live.
He became a US citizen in 2021 and announced his run for governor in 2025.
While the candidate field is largely crowded with Democrats in deep-blue California, Bianco and Hilton are the leading Republicans who have made headway in the polls.
California puts all candidates on a single ballot, and the two with the most votes on primary day, June 2, go on to the November general election regardless of party.
Democrats have worried that their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, a historic calamity for the party.
Democrats have dominated state government in California for years. The GOP has not won a statewide election in two decades, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about 2-to-1.
The race was shaken up this month after the dramatic downfall of Representative Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations.
