The far-right youth organization Turning Point USA held its AmericaFest conference this week, featuring right-wing darlings like Kyle Rittenhouse and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.
Also among the speakers was conservative Fox News pundit Jesse Watters, who used disturbing rhetoric regarding Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, whose expertise amid the COVID-19 pandemic has enraged conservatives for the past two years.
Watch below.
The incendiary, dangerous, violent rhetoric against Dr. Fauci continues at AmericaFest. Fox News host Jesse Watters tells them how to go after him to harass him in public: “Now you go in with the kill shot - deadly. Because, with an ambush, he doesn’t see it coming.” pic.twitter.com/V34YZwDdPD
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 20, 2021
Watters encouraged spectators to confront Dr. Fauci about theories that he authorized funding of gain-of-function research at a Wuhan virology lab that's been at the center of unverified claims it was the source of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fox host compared the confrontation to a "kill shot" he urged the audience to take:
"Now you go in for the kill shot. The kill shot with an ambush. Deadly. Because he doesn't see it coming. This is when you say, 'Dr. Fauci, you funded risky research at a sloppy Chinese lab. The same lab that sprung this pandemic on the world. You know why people don't trust you, don't you?' Boom! He is dead. He is dead. ... You get that footage to us, get it to Fox ... Get us that. That's what we want. That changes the whole conversation of the country."
Never mind that Fauci has already repeatedly addressed these allegations under oath in congressional hearings.
Watters' unhinged violent rhetoric prompted widespread outcry, and even got a response from Fauci himself.
Watch below.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says Fox News’ Jesse Watters should “be fired on the spot” for telling a crowd to “ambush” Fauci with “the kill shot.”
But, he adds: “He’s gonna go, very likely, unaccountable. I mean, whatever network he’s on is not going to do anything for him.” pic.twitter.com/K3X0V3jZdM
— The Recount (@therecount) December 21, 2021
Fauci said:
"What kind of craziness is there in society these days? That's awful that he said that. And he's gonna go, very likely, unaccountable. I mean, whatever network he’s on is not going to do anything for him. I mean, that's crazy. The guy should be fired on the spot."
Social media users agreed.
In what world would Jesse Waters continue to be employed after issuing a death threat? Does Fox News have NO standards? https://t.co/Tvql8UZgiU
— Susan “Free and fair elections” Becraft (@AliceTinker1943) December 21, 2021
Fire him? If they were decent, ethical people, of course. Fox will likely give him a raise. What a deplorable bunch of idiots. https://t.co/OoOTOZsHAq
— South Dakota Standard (@DakotaStandard) December 21, 2021
In my job, if I represented my company in that manner, I would have been axed within the hour. https://t.co/XQ1w7MV8YY
— Radical Left Lunatic (@JarankaK) December 21, 2021
This is disgraceful … in the real world Jesse Watters would have been fired, on the spot, and Fox would have had some ‘splaining to do !!!!!! https://t.co/Ii18NX4Prk
— Marie Gilchrist 🇨🇦 (@MarieGilchrist6) December 21, 2021
He should be fired on the spot. I get that it’s “red meat rhetoric,” but Fauci’s right. There are too many crazy people with guns who might take Watters literally. And Watters’ knows that. https://t.co/WxuQO20Lyb
— Ruthann617 (@Ruthann6171) December 21, 2021
Others said Watters should face worse consequences.
Fired? He needs to be arrested.
If that isn't inviting violence and a credible threat to another human's safety, I don't know what it is. https://t.co/XGcYjzUCGJ
— Ned Staebler (@NedStaebler) December 21, 2021
Watters should be arrested for incitement to murder. RWers are goose-stepping into violent thuggery.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" --Voltaire https://t.co/0Don0AA30V
— Pat Bagley (@Patbagley) December 21, 2021
Jesse Watters SHOULD BE IN PRISON FOR THREATENING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
What. The. Hell? He likely spouts this "natural immunity" b.s. to kill his own followers, too. https://t.co/qcNoL4S6R2
— K. Sennholz MD (@MtnMD) December 21, 2021
@joni_askola/X and @elonmusk/X
