Vice President Mike Pence joined conservative media personality Eric Bolling for an interview airing on Bolling’s online BlazeTV show. Bolling is a Trump loyalist and reported sexual harasser who currently hosts online shows for two right-wing outlets: BlazeTV and Sinclair Broadcast Group. He has used both programs to interview conspiracy theorists and extremists -- along with numerous members of the Trump inner circle.
Pence appeared on the August 27 edition of America with Eric Bolling, a program that streams on the BlazeTV online platform. In a 13-minute softball interview with Bolling, Pence pushed positive spin on President Donald Trump’s G-7 summit plans, trade relations with China, and 2020 reelection campaign. At several points in the interview, Bolling offered praise for the administration, mentioning that he had supported Trump’s presidential run and was longtime friends with the president. Bolling asked Pence about the recent story that Trump had floated using nuclear weapons to stop hurricanes from reaching the U.S., which Pence called “fake news.” The interview clip ended with Bolling asking about the recent retirement of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, then congratulating Pence on “a very successful three years” and wishing he will “continue forward for another five.”
Bolling’s BlazeTV show streams online most weekdays for a subscription audience. The episodes vary in length and format, but often feature short interviews with (usually right-wing) D.C. lawmakers, strategists, and reporters; monologues; man-on-the-street interviews and games; and bizarre viral-video-like moments.
Bolling was previously a host and co-host at Fox News, where he regularly pushed conspiracy theories, misogyny, and race-baiting commentary; he was a central figure in promoting the racist birther conspiracy theory about President Barack Obama. He left the network in 2017 amid reports that he sent unsolicited images of genitalia to multiple colleagues.
This is far from the first time a Trump administration official has given an interview to Bolling. In the 22 episodes of his Sinclair show so far, Bolling has doled out softball interviews to the president, 11 administration officials (some multiple times), five current or former Trump campaign staffers, eight Republican congressmen, and Republican National Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel. He has also hosted a number of right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists, and hacks, including Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, and fellow disgraced former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. And Bolling interviewed his “good friend” Alex Jones on his BlazeTV show (and appeared on Jones' show) in April.
