A 'Fox & Friends' host said he hasn't washed his hands in 10 years, and people thought he was serious
- Fox News host Pete Hegseth told his "Fox & Friends" co-hosts on Sunday that he hadn't washed his hands in a decade.
- People on Twitter were confused as to whether he was serious or not.
- Hegseth and a Fox News spokesperson told USA Today he was definitely joking.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises on its website that washing your hands is a good way to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.
Fox News host Pete Hegseth told his "Fox & Friends" co-hosts on Sunday morning that he hadn't washed his hands in a decade, and now people can't tell if he was joking.
Hegseth made the comment after co-host Jedediah Bila called him out for eating day-old pizza on set.
"My 2019 resolution is to say things on-air that I say off-air," Hegseth said to his co-hosts. "'I don't think I've washed my hands for 10 years. Really, I don't really wash my hands ever."
Met with laughter, he added: "I inoculate myself. Germs are not a real thing. I can't see them; therefore, they're not real."
Fox News’ @PeteHegseth admits, unprompted, that he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2019
“Germs are not a real thing,” Pete says. “I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real.” pic.twitter.com/9hsAb9YA9j
As people on Twitter speculated if Hegseth was serious, he sent mixed messages to his followers.
In one Tweet, Hegseth blamed the media for being "self-righteous and angry," and suggested journalists "loosen up and have some fun."
Hegseth also used the hashtag #dontwash and said he supported riding bikes without a helmet and drinking from hoses. "Cue outrage," he wrote.
To paraphrase the President from an hour ago:
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 11, 2019
The Media is so self righteous and ANGRY! Loosen up and have some fun. The Country is doing well (as is my health!)
P.S. I also support drinking from garden hoses & riding bikes w/o a helmet. Cue outrage...https://t.co/BubsAwBtFx
#DontWash https://t.co/wLVXkdEgr6
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 10, 2019
In another Tweet, he said Chris Hayes could "see the obvious" when the MSNBC host said Hegseth was "pretty clearly joking."
When even @chrislhayes can see the obvious...Twitter really has come full circle. https://t.co/o1dPPaWEhS
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 11, 2019
Hegseth and a Fox News spokesperson told USA Today he was definitely joking.
Scientific research has concluded that washing your hands after going to the bathroom is an effective way to combat infection and illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises on its website that washing your hands is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.
The CDC has a list of when someone should wash their hands that also includes a how-to guide.
SEE ALSO: You're probably washing your hands wrong and the results can be pretty gross — here's the right way
DON'T MISS: 5 little ways you could be spreading your germs to others
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