Fox host Jesse Watters declares 'they are at war with us' hours after Charlie Kirk was shot
Fox host demands action against unknown enemies in pattern of inflammatory rhetoric
On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot during a Utah Valley University event. Hours later the same day, Fox News co-host Jesse Watters told viewers on The Five, 'They are at war with us,' and asked, 'what are we going to do about it?' The Five is a top-rated Fox show that averaged roughly 3.5–3.9 million viewers in mid-2025. At the time of Watters' remarks officials said the shooter remained at large, and federal agents were engaged in the investigation.
Why this matters
This episode shows how media figures can exploit tragedy with unverified political blame, escalate partisan anger, and legitimize calls for retaliation, heightening the risk of real-world violence (thedailybeast.com).
Core Facts
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot at an outdoor Utah Valley University event around midday. Authorities said the suspected shooter was at large hours after the attack.
Jesse Watters delivered a monologue on The Five later that day that included the lines 'They are at war with us' and 'What are we going to do about it?' He named prior episodes of political violence while not specifying a suspect.
Contrary to the original draft, federal agents were reported to be involved in the investigation within hours, and officials publicly said no suspect was in custody at that time.
The Five was a top-rated cable-news program in 2025 with average total viewers in the mid-to-high 3 millions in recent Nielsen-reporting periods, not 2.1 million.
Key Actors
Jesse Watters
Fox News co-host and primetime personality
Delivered a September 10, 2025 monologue on The Five that included the line 'They are at war with us' and urged viewers to consider retaliation, hours after the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Charlie Kirk
Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder
Shot during a September 10, 2025 event at Utah Valley University and later pronounced dead. The incident prompted a multiagency investigation.
Beau Mason / Utah Department of Public Safety
State public safety official
Stated publicly that the lone suspected shooter remained at large roughly four hours after the midday shooting.
Suzanne Scott
Fox News CEO
Named as the network executive overseeing programming. The network continued to attract high primetime audiences in 2025.
Actionable Insights
Correct the audience numbers in outreach and pressure campaigns
Use up-to-date Nielsen/industry figures when notifying advertisers or regulators. The Five averaged roughly 3.5–3.9 million total viewers in mid-2025.
Frame requests to regulators with accurate timing
If you petition the FCC or state law enforcement, cite exact event times: shooting about 12:20 p.m. MDT on Sept. 10, 2025; Watters' TV remarks the same afternoon.
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