Something amazing happened on Monday night. And it's not your usual run-of-the-mill political news. During an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) appeared to rip a massive fart live on the air.
I knew @ericswalwell was full of hot gas...I mean air. pic.twitter.com/Yh792wwJdC
— Christian Martinez (@C_RMartinez) November 19, 2019
BuzzFeed News reporter Addy Baird sent a text to the Congressman to ask him to confirm or deny whether or not it was actually him who passed gas. Of course, Swalwell said he didn't do it.
A text I never thought I’d send pic.twitter.com/t0Y4rCA14x
— Addy Baird (@addysue) November 19, 2019
NEWS: SWALWELL denies it was him who farted on MSNBC: pic.twitter.com/IYmHwYfuGf
— Addy Baird (@addysue) November 19, 2019
Good to see a member of Congress just speaking the truth without partisan spin: pic.twitter.com/eSnRbnt92G
— Addy Baird (@addysue) November 19, 2019
But people were determined to get to the bottom of what really took place.
THREAD: I hate to let the air out of these #fartgate theories, but the inimitable laws of physics clearly point to Chris as the culprit. For one, Swalwell’s mic wouldn’t likely have picked it up in the noisy liveshot location...
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 19, 2019
Second, the fart conveniently manifests when it goes to a one-shot, where Chris is off camera to let it rip without anyone seeing...
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 19, 2019
Finally, it was likely acoustically amplified after bouncing off the back of Matthews’ chair...
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 19, 2019
Unless you’re telling me that thing bounced through the echoey Capitol building, into Swalwell’s lav mic, through control to the main audio, then that is one magic fart. There is also, of course, the possibility that there was a second farter. #fartgate #fin
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 19, 2019
So much so that gifs were created to slow down the moment in time the fart was delt.
I’ve isolated and slowed the moment of the fart. You can clearly see Swalwell brace forward, tense up for a moment, and then relax. He dealt it. pic.twitter.com/Nzo93RoNfR
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) November 19, 2019
Donald Trump Jr. took a swipe at Swalwell, saying the fart was the "most intelligible thing to come out of Swalwell in years." He then dubbed the moment Fartgate (which is now a Twitter hashtag).
Most intelligible thing to come out of Swalwell in years. #fartgate https://t.co/LT7MXAkIRB
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 19, 2019
Ben Shapiro had a blast with puns:
He who denied it supplied it #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
Duke Nuked ‘Em #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
This is how liberty dies. With thunderous farts. #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
Swallwell is the whistleblower #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
Trump is going to tweet about Eric Fartwell and win all 50 states #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
He should relaunch his campaign tonight. Only Eric Swalwell’s farts can bring Americans together in this time of polarization. #fartgate
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 19, 2019
Some others had fun with the moment too:
I actually give credit to @ericswalwell vis-a-vis #fartgate. He said he would nuke law-abiding citizens and he definitely dropped a bomb.
— Jacob Airey (@realJacobAirey) November 19, 2019
I seriously hope someone at MSNBC offered Swalwell some baby wipes. You know there's a high probability that was a shart #fartgate
— Beth Baumann (@eb454) November 19, 2019
POLL TIME: Eric Swalwell...#fartgate
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) November 19, 2019