Fox News host says he has not washed hands in 10 years; triggers social media conern

Fox News host Pete Hegseth has said that he has not washed his hands in a decade as he thinks "germs are not a real thing", sending viewers into a frenzy and triggering adverse social media comments.

Hegseth made the shocking admission on Sunday's 'Fox and Friends' episode. The network's spokeswoman later described Hegseth's comments as a "joke".

He said the infectious micro-organisms did not exist because they could not be seen with the naked eye.

"I inoculate myself. Germs are not a real thing. I can't see them, therefore they're not real," added the 38-year-old Harvard and Princeton graduate.

His remarks came after co-hosts Ed Henry and Jedediah Bila made fun of him for eating left-over pizza that had not been refrigerated.

"My 2019 resolution is to say things on air that I say off air," Hegseth added.

His comments were met with both support and concern on social media.

A Fox News spokeswoman told The Washington Post that Hegseth was joking, of course, which he later said was "obvious."
"I take care of myself and all that, but I don't obsess over everything all the time."
One BBC reader, Steve M, said: "I didn't think I would ever say this - I agree with Donald Trump on this!"
"It would seem that attending Harvard and Princeton might provide knowledge, but obviously not any sense."