Pete Hegseth, a host on Fox News' 'Fox & Friends', has sparked outrage after stating that he has not washed his hands in ten years and that 'germs are not a real thing'. The comments were made during a segment about eating day-old pizza that had not been refrigerated.
Hegseth said he saw no issue with the pizza, adding that he 'inoculates himself' and that germs are not real because he cannot see them. The studio audience laughed at his remarks.
On Twitter, Hegseth later claimed he was joking and blamed the media for being 'self-righteous and angry'. He also expressed support for drinking from hosepipes and riding bikes without helmets.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regular hand washing as one of the best ways to remove germs and prevent illness. Proper hand washing can reduce diarrhoeal disease by 23% to 40%.
Hegseth, a former army national guard officer, was once reportedly President Trump's preferred candidate to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, which would have made him responsible for the health of 20 million Americans.
