A host from Fox News suggested a drastic response to an incident involving an elevator malfunction during President Donald Trump‘s visit to the United Nations. On air, Jesse Watters claimed that the malfunction could be a case of “sabotage,” stating, “Daddy’s not happy.” This commentary followed a report in the Times, which referenced a joke among UN staff about possibly turning off elevators and escalators to make Trump’s arrival more challenging.
Watters escalated his remarks by stating, “What we need to do is either leave the UN… or we need to bomb it.” He acknowledged the location of the UN in New York, noting potential “fallout” from such an action. This extreme suggestion came shortly after Trump himself joked about the elevator malfunction during a speech at the UN, indicating he had received “a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter” as part of his experience there.
The elevator incident prompted a response from the White House, which requested an investigation into the malfunction. Watters expressed concern that the situation could have harmed “the most beautiful First Lady in American history,” referring to Melania Trump. A source later informed The Daily Beast that the elevator issue was due to someone inadvertently activating the emergency stop.
Controversial Statements at Fox News
This incident is not the first time Fox News has faced scrutiny for controversial remarks. Recently, another host suggested that mentally ill homeless individuals should be “killed” during a discussion about the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina. Host Brian Kilmeade later expressed regret for his “extremely callous remark,” which sparked discussions about crime and mental health care in the United States.
During the same segment, Kilmeade stated, “[Give them] an involuntary lethal injection – or something. Just kill them.” This prompted backlash, particularly from Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, who criticized the comments on social media, noting that America’s homeless population includes over a million children and many veterans.
Beyer stated, “Nobody deserves to be murdered by the government for mental illness or poverty. These Fox hosts are calling for mass murder – it is sick.” His comments reflect a broader concern regarding the treatment of vulnerable populations in light of ongoing debates about mental health and homelessness in the country.
As these events unfold, the impact of rhetoric from influential media figures continues to raise concerns about public discourse and the implications of extreme statements. The incidents involving both Trump and the remarks from Fox News hosts highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding mental health, public safety, and the responsibilities of media in shaping societal attitudes.
