Fox News host Jesse Watters has never been shy about hurling barbs at Democrats, but his latest comments about California Governor Gavin Newsom’s supposed lack of masculinity are raising eyebrows—partly because viewers believe Watters may have been wearing eyeliner and heavy makeup while making the critique.

The remarks came during a recent broadcast of Jesse Watters Primetime, in which the Fox personality mocked Newsom’s efforts to project toughness on the national stage. Newsom has increasingly positioned himself as one of the Democratic Party’s most visible defenders against former President Donald Trump, adopting sharp rhetoric and combative media appearances that some see as rehearsals for higher ambitions.

But Watters was unconvinced. “This guy talks a big game, but it’s all sizzle and no steak,” he said, dismissing Newsom’s performance style as posturing rather than substance. “He’s trying to look like the alpha male, but no one’s buying it.”

The Makeup Question That Won’t Go Away

What might have gone down as another standard partisan swipe quickly gained traction on social media for another reason: Watters himself appeared to be wearing conspicuous cosmetics while making his critique.

Online observers noted what looked like thick foundation, bronzer, and especially eyeliner around his eyes. The hashtag #WattersWearsEyeliner began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users mocking the irony of a cable host critiquing another man’s masculinity while appearing to have spent significant time in the makeup chair.

“Imagine calling someone else unmanly while you’re rocking a full Sephora starter kit,” one viral post read. Another user quipped: “Watters calling Newsom ‘all sizzle, no steak’ while he’s literally marinated in MAC cosmetics is peak Fox News.”

To be clear, virtually all television personalities—male and female—wear makeup on-air. Studio lighting, high-definition cameras, and broadcast standards demand it. But the extent and style of Watters’ look have long fueled speculation among viewers that his cosmetics go beyond standard powder and anti-shine. Clips dissecting his “eyeliner look” have circulated for years, usually resurfacing whenever he makes an especially macho or derisive comment about a political opponent.

Pot, Meet Kettle

Critics were quick to point out the irony of Watters’ dig at Newsom’s masculinity.

“Watters spends 45 minutes in hair and makeup before a show, but wants to talk about who’s ‘manly’? That’s rich,” Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella posted.

Satirical outlets piled on too. One parody headline read: Fox Host with Smoky Eye Says Governor Lacks Testosterone.

The clash underscores a broader culture-war dynamic that has come to define much of cable news programming. For Fox personalities like Watters, framing Democrats as “weak,” “soft,” or “feminized” has become a reliable rhetorical strategy when opposing figures like Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, or Gavin Newsom. But when the messenger himself is visibly styled in a way many interpret as carefully cosmetic, the attack risks collapsing under its own contradictions.

Newsom vs. Trump: The “Strongman” Showdown

The timing of Watters’ remarks is no accident. Gavin Newsom has been stepping up his national media presence, most notably through fiery interviews and even a high-profile televised debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year. His approach is widely seen as an attempt to model himself as the Democrats’ counterweight to Donald Trump—a figure whose brand of performative masculinity has defined Republican politics for nearly a decade.

Trump’s appeal has always hinged partly on projecting toughness, dominance, and “alpha” energy. Newsom’s efforts to puncture that narrative—mocking Trump’s legal woes, touting California’s progressive policies, and flexing rhetorical muscle—are designed to prove that Democrats can match fire with fire.

For Watters, however, that attempt to channel “strength” is precisely where Newsom falters. “He’s rehearsed, he’s slick, but he doesn’t have the grit,” Watters argued on-air. “Real men don’t need to act tough—they just are.”

Masculinity Politics in 2025

The exchange fits neatly into a broader political discourse in which masculinity itself has become a contested ideological battleground. Figures like Missouri Senator Josh Hawley have written books on the “crisis of manhood,” conservative influencers praise “traditional masculinity” as a bulwark against societal decline, and media personalities frequently weaponize gender norms as a means of political attack.

Fox News, in particular, has leaned heavily into this narrative. Hosts like Tucker Carlson—before his departure—framed “male decline” as both a political and cultural emergency, running segments on everything from low testosterone to the supposed feminization of the military. Watters has inherited much of that mantle, often using humor, ridicule, and personal jabs to frame Democrats as effete or emasculated.

Yet as his latest viral moment demonstrates, these attacks can backfire when the optics tell a different story. Viewers may accept the premise that Newsom is scripted or flashy, but the messenger—delivering the line while seemingly rocking eyeliner—complicates the punchline.

A Growing Pattern

This is not the first time Watters has been accused of hypocrisy in his rhetoric. Earlier this year, he mocked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s fashion sense while wearing what critics described as “spray tan gone wrong.” In 2022, he accused President Biden of being “out of touch” while broadcasting from a private luxury resort.

Each instance fuels a perception among detractors that Watters’ style of commentary relies less on substantive critique and more on projection, where his own image issues reflect the very insecurities he exploits for laughs.

The Bigger Picture

While it’s unlikely that the eyeliner discourse will fundamentally alter Watters’ career trajectory—Fox viewers remain loyal, and controversy is often part of the brand—the episode highlights how fragile “tough guy” narratives can be when subjected to modern media scrutiny.

Masculinity as a political weapon remains a potent tool, but in the age of memes, HD close-ups, and viral hashtags, even the smallest incongruity can turn an attack into self-parody.

For Gavin Newsom, the moment may ultimately be a gift: a chance to frame his critics as unserious, more concerned with eyeliner than policy. For Jesse Watters, it’s another reminder that when you live by the optics, you sometimes get burned by them.