Fox News host Jesse Watters challenged Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s claims about a girlfriend—questioning whether she exists and linking the remarks to assumptions about Talarico’s sexuality—while a White House deputy chief of staff also attacked hi
On Wednesday. Jesse Watters didn’t just question James Talarico’s politics—he went after his private life with a joke that landed like a punch. On Fox News’s “The Five. ” the host mocked the Texas Senate candidate as “Tala-freako” as the panel discussed Talarico’s alleged veganism. which Talarico denies.
Watters then shifted to a subject he treated as fair game: whether Talarico’s relationship claims are genuine. Talarico, a Democrat, is “37” and “not married,” Watters said, before laying out what he called a timeline problem. Watters referenced Talarico’s claim “that he has a girlfriend. ” saying they “been together for four years. ” that he described her as “his best friend. ” and that she was “his rock.” Watters added that the campaign has not revealed her identity. saying Talarico did so “because he wants to respect her privacy and keep her safe during the campaign.”.
That explanation didn’t satisfy Watters. He pressed the timeline again, asking why the woman hasn’t been visible before now. “If the campaign has only been going on for less than a year. and they’ve been dating for four years. why haven’t we ever seen this woman before?” he said. Watters followed with a line that framed the entire segment as suspicion dressed up as comedy: “Basically. what I’m saying is. does she exist?”.
The host then connected the questioning to an election-year spectacle—whether Talarico would ever openly address the relationship if he wins. “We’re gonna find out because, if he wins, are they going to have a coming-out party?. Or is she still going to stay the secret girlfriend?” Watters asked, before bringing veganism back into the mix. “And is this totally-not-fake girlfriend also a vegan?”.
After a brief interruption from co-panelist Greg Gutfeld, Watters delivered his conclusion. “Yes, a gay vegan is definitely gonna win in Texas,” he said. “Not gay and not vegan, for the record.”
The tone of the exchange wasn’t confined to studio banter. Watters’ wisecracking was framed as a preview of the kind of Republican attack messaging that could define the race as Talarico and his opponent move toward a November showdown against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The article notes that Paxton is the GOP candidate and is “scandal-plagued.”.
The attacks also broadened beyond sexuality talk. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, fired what the piece describes as a “ridiculous salvo” on Wednesday suggesting that Talarico is transgender.
The sequence of personal jabs—veganism disputes. questions about a “girlfriend” who has never been publicly identified. and allegations that extend to gender identity—sets a stark tone for the closing stretch of the Texas campaign. By treating intimate details as political weapons. the remarks ensure that. for voters. the election isn’t just about policy contrasts. It’s about what can be targeted, mocked, and implied while the race heads toward November.
Jesse Watters James Talarico Texas Senate Ken Paxton The Five Fox News veganism girlfriend claims coming-out party Stephen Miller White House deputy chief of staff transgender allegation election 2024
Isn’t this just gossip dressed up as politics?
Watters is wild for real. Like who cares if she exists? If he votes well or not is what matters.
I don’t even get the timeline part. If she’s been around 4 years and the campaign is only a year, wouldn’t that mean she is literally just being hidden by the government or something? Sounds sus but also kinda none of Fox’s business.
They’re acting like “does she exist” is some gotcha but it’s still just judging a guy for his personal life. Also the vegan thing? That’s always the dumbest punchline. I swear every election turns into high school drama, and then everyone pretends it’s about issues.