By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On the Fox News talk show “The Five,” host Jesse Watters reacted to teleprompter and escalator malfunctions during President Trump’s U.N. visit, calling the incidents an “insurrection.” Watters suggested the U.N. headquarters should be bombed or demolished in response to the malfunctions, with his co-hosts reacting with laughter. A U.N. spokesperson later clarified that the escalator issue was caused by a member of the U.S. delegation. Despite this, the White House stated it would investigate the incidents, which also sparked criticism on social media.
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Fox News’ Jesse Watters Calls to ‘Bomb’ U.N., or ‘Maybe Gas It’ After Broken Escalator and Teleprompter During Trump’s Visit is the kind of headline that makes you do a double-take. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect from a fringe internet forum, not a major news network. But here we are, processing the fallout from a comment made by Jesse Watters on Fox News’ *The Five* regarding incidents that occurred during a visit by former President Donald Trump to the United Nations.
Watters’ commentary, which involved suggesting bombing the U.N. headquarters, or, as he put it, “maybe gas it,” is frankly alarming. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a lighthearted joke. This is a call for violence, couched in the guise of political commentary. The context, as bizarre as it is, involved a malfunctioning escalator and teleprompter during Trump’s visit. The supposed “insurrection” Watters cited was a faulty machine and a technical error, not a deliberate act of aggression.
The fact that this kind of rhetoric is being broadcast on a major news network is, frankly, terrifying. It is especially galling when compared to the consequences people face for less severe criticism. The idea that this could be brushed aside as mere hyperbole is almost as disturbing as the original comment. Why is it that when someone on the right, like Watters, says something potentially inciting violence, the response is often muted? Meanwhile, when others, frequently on the left, say something that doesn’t align with the right’s viewpoint, they are met with a swift and often forceful backlash?
The lack of accountability is striking. Where are the calls for him to be fired? Where are the demands for an apology? Where is the FCC’s response? Are they holding Kimmel to task, while they turn a blind eye to Watters? It’s a double standard that highlights the political polarization. The people who express any kind of dissent are suddenly the problem. The people making actual threats, on the other hand, seem to get a pass.
It is even more infuriating when you consider that the escalator malfunction, which seemed to inspire Watters’ violent thoughts, was apparently caused by a member of Trump’s own staff. And the teleprompter was being operated by the White House staff. So the man, Watters, is blaming a group of people, the UN, for something they didn’t do. The UN had nothing to do with this technical glitch.
This situation really does feel like we are living in a bizarro world. The comments are outrageous, and they’re being aired with apparent impunity. It’s a clear sign that the line between legitimate political discourse and dangerous, potentially violent rhetoric has been blurred. The fact that this kind of talk is normalized, and perhaps even encouraged, by a major news outlet is a serious threat to democracy and civil society.
The argument that “it’s just a joke” or “he didn’t *really* mean it” doesn’t hold water. The potential for misinterpretation and the impact of such statements on viewers, who may be susceptible to taking those comments literally, is a critical thing to consider.
And yet, the same people who express outrage over mild criticism from people they don’t like, often fail to condemn this level of inflammatory speech. This inconsistency is frustrating. When someone says they want to bomb a building full of people, it’s time for action, not excuses. It’s time for the authorities to get involved.