Fux propaganda fucks themselves...

Fox News react in real time to Trump's reported indictment

Alec Regimbal

As news of former President Donald Trump's reported indictment broke on Fox News on Thursday, it seems audible gasps could be heard in the studio as reporter Sandra Smith read the report on air. 

"We have just gotten word former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury in New York," she said, as others in the room gasped. "Trump was under investigation by the DA's office for his alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign."

Other Fox News hosts, including Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld, each took turns ranting about the announcement. At points, Watters appeared close to tears.

"It's the stupidest thing I've ever seen, and I feel bad for the guy," he said. "He didn't even really have to be president, he had a lot of money, he had a great life, and he decided to run. He won, he got in, they took him down, and now they're trying to nickel-and-dime him for a private agreement he made with a woman, what, eight years ago? ... This is a disgrace." 

He then went on to talk about the potential arrest process, saying Trump will be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken. 

"They'll plaster that mug shot all over the country for the next two years and run against a criminal," he said. "And that's what this is all about." 

His tone then turned angry, and he seemed to imply that the decision to indict Trump could result in violence. 

"There's going to be a major rally-around-the-flag feeling. I'm starting to feel it right now," he said. "I'm angry about it, I don't like it, the country's not going to stand for it, and people better be careful. And that's all I'll say about that."

At one point, he even said Trump's alleged payments to Daniels were analogous to getting a haircut. 

"If you get a haircut a couple weeks before an election, and you pay for it out of your own pocket, not campaign funds, how is that a campaign finance felony?" he said. "If you were going to get a haircut anyway, you wanted to look good anyway, just like he would have paid off this woman anyway whether he was running for president or not." 

Contrary to Watters' claims about the case, the Manhattan district attorney's investigation actually revolved around how the $130,000 payment to Daniels — allegedly made to keep her from speaking about a purported affair the two had — was recorded by the Trump campaign. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, made the payment to Daniels and was reimbursed by Trump's campaign, which recorded it as a legal expense. Falsifying business records is normally considered a misdemeanor in New York, but the charge can be elevated to a felony if it is shown that records were falsified to cover up a crime. 

Trump, for his part, has denied all wrongdoing. 

Many in the right-wing orbit have argued that Trump's being arrested would actually guarantee that he'll win the Republican nomination for president, which he's seeking, in next year's contest. That's the route host Greg Gutfeld took when speaking about the indictment on Fox on Thursday. 

"He is an [original gangster], right? He's a badass. ... The thing is, his poll numbers have gone up with this," Gutfeld said. "I just think this is going to make sure he is gonna be on the ticket."