Fox News Hosts Expose Defense Secretary’s Bizarre Habits
Current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s unconventional hygiene practices were unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight during a Fox News broadcast Wednesday when former colleagues shared anecdotes about his seemingly cavalier attitude toward germs. During the closing segment of “Outnumbered,” hosts reminisced about Hegseth’s habit of eating food that had fallen on the floor and his previous claims about not washing his hands.
The discussion began when host Joe Concha ate a banana he had dropped on the studio floor while discussing a TikTok video debunking the “five-second rule.” This prompted co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy to comment that Concha was “auditioning for the Pete Hegseth seat,” referencing their former colleague who now serves as Defense Secretary in the Biden administration.
Ainsley Earhardt then elaborated with a specific anecdote about Hegseth’s food handling practices during their time working together. “He would drop it, it would land upside down, the cream cheese on the floor, and he would pick it up,” she recalled of Hegseth’s bagel mishaps, according to The Daily Beast. “And I’m like, ‘Wait, is there any hair on there?’ It was so gross, and he would just pop it in his mouth.”
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From Television Commentary to Pentagon Leadership
The revelations about Hegseth’s personal habits create an unusual dimension to his public profile as he continues in his role leading the Department of Defense. Before his government appointment, Hegseth was a regular Fox News personality, hosting “Fox & Friends Weekend” and appearing on various programs across the network.
His transition from media figure to Pentagon chief brought his previous statements under renewed scrutiny, but his former colleagues’ casual discussion of his hygiene practices adds personal details that weren’t previously part of public discourse about the Defense Secretary. The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment about the televised discussion of Hegseth’s habits.
Hegseth’s military background as an Army National Guard officer with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan forms a significant part of his credentials for his current role. Earhardt referenced this background when attempting to explain his behavior, stating, “He’s like an Army guy. You know, he’s tough!”
The Handwashing Controversy Revisited
Wednesday’s discussion quickly expanded beyond floor food to include Hegseth’s infamous 2019 statement about hand hygiene. During that February 2019 broadcast of “Fox & Friends Sunday,” Hegseth claimed he hadn’t washed his hands in a decade, explaining, “I don’t believe in germs. I can’t see them; therefore, they’re not real.”
The comment generated significant public reaction, prompting Hegseth to later claim he was merely joking and poking fun at excessive germaphobia. “We live in a society where people walk around with bottles of Purell in their pockets, and they sanitize 19,000 times a day as if that’s going to save their life,” Hegseth said after the controversy, describing the public’s response as “ridiculous.”
Concha referenced this history during Wednesday’s broadcast, reminding viewers of Hegseth’s handwashing comments, with another host chiming in: “He said that once on air!” The exchange suggests the comments became a running joke among Fox News personnel even before Hegseth left the network for government service.
Science Contradicts the Five-Second Belief
While Hegseth’s behavior might be dismissed as personal preference, food safety experts consistently reject the notion that food remains uncontaminated if picked up quickly after touching the floor. Irish Star reports that scientific research shows bacteria can transfer to food instantaneously upon contact with surfaces.
The risk varies based on food type and floor surface, with moist foods being particularly susceptible to contamination. Hard surfaces like tile, steel, or wood—common in television studios and office environments—transfer bacteria more efficiently than carpet, potentially exposing Hegseth to various pathogens when retrieving fallen food items.
CDC data indicates foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths annually in the United States. Common bacteria that could be transferred include norovirus, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting the practice carries more risk than casual adherence to the “five-second rule” might imply.
As Secretary Hegseth continues overseeing the nation’s military forces, these unexpected revelations from former colleagues have added an unusual personal dimension to his public profile. Whether the Pentagon will address these characterizations of the Secretary’s personal habits remains to be seen as the anecdotes circulate through media coverage.
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