Middle-aged Fox News hosts Jesse Watters and Julie Banderas creeped out their audience when they speculated about whether Barron Trump got laid at the end of his reported date. It was reported on Tuesday that the 19-year-old son of President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, had arranged a date at Trump Tower for “security” reasons. Page Six revealed that an entire floor of the president’s Midtown skyscraper had been closed off for the romantic occasion with Barron’s unnamed date.

“This isn’t journalism — it’s disturbing,” one critic wrote online after a segment on Fox News’ The Five left viewers stunned and angry.

A “Creepy” Segment That Crossed the Line

What began as light celebrity chatter quickly spiraled into something darker on Tuesday’s episode of The Five. Co-hosts Jesse Watters and Julie Banderas shocked audiences when they started speculating about whether 19-year-old Barron Trump — the youngest son of former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump — had sex at the end of his reported date.

The conversation stemmed from a Page Six report revealing that Barron had arranged a private date at Trump Tower, where an entire floor of the Midtown skyscraper was closed off for the occasion. The report described the meeting as “romantic but heavily guarded,” given Barron’s high-profile family status.

Instead of keeping the focus on the unusual security measures or the media interest surrounding the young Trump, Watters and Banderas chose to giggle, smirk, and exchange innuendos, turning the discussion into what many viewers described as “a creepy spectacle.”

Viewers Express Shock and Disgust

Almost immediately, social media platforms lit up with outrage. Clips from the show circulated widely, accompanied by comments calling the hosts’ behavior “gross,” “predatory,” and “deeply inappropriate.”

“Barron Trump is 19 — legally an adult, sure, but still a teenager,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Watching two middle-aged anchors speculate about his sex life on national television is disturbing on so many levels.”

Others criticized the segment as a symptom of a larger issue within certain corners of American media — the tendency to blur the line between gossip and harassment.

A media ethics professor from NYU, who asked not to be named, commented:

“There’s a difference between reporting on a public figure and invading a young person’s privacy. What we saw here wasn’t commentary; it was voyeurism masked as humor.”

The Internet Turns Against the Hosts

In the hours that followed, the backlash snowballed. Memes mocking Watters and Banderas flooded Reddit and TikTok, while political commentators — both left and right — condemned the on-air exchange.

Even some conservative voices expressed discomfort. A former Fox contributor told The Daily Beast:

“It’s one thing to talk politics, but this was weird. Imagine if CNN hosts had joked about one of Trump’s kids that way — Fox would have exploded.”

Hashtags like #LeaveBarronAlone and #FoxNewsCreepShow began trending. Fans of the Trump family, as well as critics of the network, seemed to agree for once: the comments had gone too far.

Silence from Fox News

As of Wednesday morning, neither Fox News nor the two hosts involved had issued a public apology or clarification. The network’s silence only fueled further speculation and anger.

Some insiders claim producers were “caught off guard” by the hosts’ remarks and are “discussing internally” how to handle the situation.

Meanwhile, watchdog organizations like Media Matters have called on Fox to acknowledge the misconduct and reinforce ethical boundaries when covering the personal lives of political figures’ children.

“The Trump kids, Obama kids, Biden kids — it doesn’t matter whose child it is. These are young people. They should be off-limits for sexualized commentary,” a Media Matters representative stated.

The Double Standard Debate

The incident reignited a long-standing debate about media double standards and the treatment of political families. Many compared the current outrage to the fierce backlash other outlets faced when discussing the Obama daughters or Hunter Biden’s young child.

“The media either protects or preys — depending on the family,” one columnist wrote. “And last night, Fox News proved which side it’s on.”

Melania and Trump’s Likely Response

While neither Donald nor Melania Trump has commented publicly, sources close to the former First Family told Page Six that Melania was “furious” upon learning about the segment.

“Barron is extremely private. Melania has always kept him away from public scrutiny,” the insider said. “To hear grown adults making jokes about his romantic life — she finds that disgusting.”

Observers note that if the Trumps address the incident, it could further strain Fox’s relationship with the family, which has already cooled in recent years amid tensions between Donald Trump and network executives.

What Happens Next?

For now, viewers await a response from Fox News — though many doubt one will come. Watters, known for his provocative and often controversial remarks, has faced criticism before for comments deemed sexist or inappropriate.

But this time, critics say, the backlash feels different.

“This isn’t about politics anymore,” one commenter wrote. “It’s about basic decency — and the fact that grown adults on national television thought it was funny to sexualize a 19-year-old kid.”

Whether Fox chooses to address the uproar or simply ride out the storm remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the network’s latest scandal has once again blurred the line between commentary and cruelty — and this time, the audience noticed.