Thursday’s episode of The Five on Fox News took an unexpected leap from political headlines to interplanetary conquest — and Jesse Watters was at the center of the storm. The conservative host, known for his provocative style and often incendiary remarks, triggered a social media firestorm after delivering what many called an “insane” monologue about alien experiments, lunar outposts, and humanity’s supposed divine mission to colonize the solar system.

The discussion began with the panel dissecting the Trump administration’s ambitious plan to establish a permanent lunar base, complete with a nuclear reactor — a move framed as both a strategic foothold in space and a competitive counter to China’s growing ambitions. Joining Watters and Dana Perino at the table were Lisa Kennedy, George “Tyrus” Murdoch, and Rosanna Scotto, each ready to weigh in on the day’s hottest topics.

The lunar proposal had already made waves on CBS News the day prior, where anchors Vladimir Duthiers and Adriana Diaz discussed the geopolitical and ethical implications of colonizing the moon alongside astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Diaz posed the provocative question: “Is it inevitable that we’re going to have to go to the moon and try to colonize it?” Tyson, with a smirk, admitted he had no plans to “live on the moon” and criticized America’s “reactive” approach to space competition.

Duthiers added fuel to the debate by likening lunar colonization to the age of Earth’s colonial empires, asking whether nations should create “keep-out zones” in space. This framing didn’t sit well with the Fox News crew, and what followed was a segment Watters himself dubbed “Luna Lunacy.”

Watters’ Off-the-Rails Vision for Space

“I predict space exploration is going to be a problem for liberals — and here’s why,” Watters began, leaning forward with the air of someone about to drop a bombshell.

“We’re all assuming aliens are more advanced than we are, perhaps rightly. But let’s say they’re not. Let’s say we’re more advanced — and when we go get them, we capture them, perform scientific experiments on their bodies, and extract precious minerals from their planets for the benefit of humankind.”

The rest of the panel shifted uncomfortably as Watters barreled ahead. “Of course, I can see liberals saying that’s racist colonialism — but I disagree. We need to have Martians in museums so people can look at what we’ve captured. We need to use the moon as a launch pad to colonize other planets in the solar system.”

Then came the line that had Twitter melting down: “So we can just spread humanity all over the place — because that’s what God put us on this Earth for: to spread humanity.” Turning to Perino with a smirk, he added, “Not in a sexual way, Dana, just spread it around.”

Without missing a beat, Perino deadpanned, “Well, how else do you do it?” prompting Tyrus to chuckle, “Yeah, you did a really good job of spreading that around.”

Social Media Erupts

If Watters expected applause, what he got instead was an avalanche of ridicule.

“Can we send him to Mars? And leave him there?” one user asked bluntly.
“Serious question: Did Watters make it past the 6th grade?” another quipped.
“This s— he’s been spewing lately is getting more and more insane,” one viewer posted.
Others got more creative: “Makes me wanna root for the aliens in Independence Day,” wrote one. Another jabbed, “Children eating lunch is more important than your Star Trek fantasies.”

A Pattern of Provocation

This isn’t the first time Watters has courted controversy with his off-the-cuff style. As one of Fox News’ most polarizing personalities, his on-air persona thrives on taking ideas to extremes, often blurring the line between satire and sincerity. But Thursday’s remarks struck a different chord — a surreal blend of colonial nostalgia, sci-fi dominance, and religious destiny that left even some conservative viewers scratching their heads.

Critics argue that his language mirrors centuries-old rhetoric used to justify exploitation and subjugation, simply transplanted onto a cosmic scale. Supporters, meanwhile, insist he was speaking tongue-in-cheek, pointing to the segment’s title, Luna Lunacy, as evidence of intended humor.

Still, the viral backlash underscored how quickly modern audiences — especially in the age of clipped, shareable soundbites — can seize on a moment and turn it into a cultural flashpoint.

From the Moon to the Meme Machine

Within hours, memes flooded social media: Watters in an astronaut suit floating toward Mars with the caption “Bon Voyage”; doctored photos of a “Watters Museum” featuring green-skinned aliens behind glass; and one particularly biting edit showing the Fox host as Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars, captioned “Unlimited Colonization.”

Even late-night comedians got in on the action, with one joking, “Jesse Watters says God put us here to spread humanity across the galaxy. Finally, a space program designed by a 12-year-old boy who just watched Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Whether this moment becomes another fleeting Fox News soundbite or cements itself as a defining example of Watters’ “shoot first, think later” approach, one thing is clear: his vision of humanity’s future in space — complete with alien experiments and Martian museums — isn’t exactly winning hearts among the Twitterverse.

For now, Watters remains Earth-bound. But judging by the online sentiment, there’s no shortage of volunteers ready to strap him to a rocket and hit “launch.”