Jesse Watters reveals Trump joke about Georgia mugshot at TPUSA event

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Fox News host Jesse Watters drew laughs at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest after sharing personal anecdotes involving President Donald Trump, including a joke Trump made about his widely circulated Georgia mugshot.

While speaking at the TPUSA event, Watters mixed humor with behind-the-scenes recollections from his interactions with Trump, touching on moments from the White House and his own career at Fox News.

Jesse Watters shares Donald Trump’s reaction to Georgia mugshot

Watters recalled meeting Trump shortly after he turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia. According to Watters, the conversation quickly turned to the mugshot that later spread across social media and news platforms.

“I saw the president on the golf course right after that,” Watters told the audience. “I said, ‘Mr. President, my wife saw your mugshot. She says you look fierce.’”

Watters then recounted Trump’s description of the booking process, saying the former president was frustrated that he was not allowed to see the photo or request another take after it was snapped.

“The guy goes, ‘Click,’” Watters recalled Trump saying. “I go, ‘Can I see it?’ He says, ‘No.’ I go, ‘Can we do another?’ He says, ‘No.’”

According to Watters, Trump later saw the image again while flying back on his private jet, when his lawyer showed him the photo. Watters said Trump immediately called Melania Trump.

“So I’m riding back on my jet, and my lawyer shows me a picture of what I look like,” Trump allegedly said. “First thing I do, I call Melania. And I said, ‘Baby, I know who’s going to do our Christmas card. It’s the Fulton County Jail photographer.’”

The comment drew loud laughter and applause from the audience.

Jesse Watters recalls White House visit with Trump

Watters also shared details from a visit to the White House, where Trump showed him plans for a new ballroom. The moment, Watters said, happened casually while the two were eating Mexican food.

“Trump asked me, ‘Jesse, you want to see the rendition of the big beautiful ballroom?’” Watters recalled. “I said yes, and he rolled the whole thing out.”

Describing the scale of the project, Watters told the crowd he was struck by how large it appeared. “I said, ‘Mr. President, the ballroom is like four times the size of the White House,’” he said.

Trump’s response, according to Watters, leaned into humor. “‘Jesse, it’s a monument,’” Trump allegedly replied. “‘I’m building a monument to myself because no one else will.’” The remark was met with laughter and applause.

Jesse Watters jokes about Fox News success at TPUSA event

During the same speech, Watters also poked fun at his own career at Fox News. The 47-year-old Jesse Watters Primetime host joked that drinking alcohol might be the reason he has managed to remain at the network.

In a video shared on X, Watters recalled attending a White House event tied to Charlie Kirk’s Medal of Freedom ceremony, where he posed for a group photo with conservative media figures including Tucker Carlson, Bill O’Reilly, and Glenn Beck.

“I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wait a second,’” Watters said. “‘All these guys have been fired from Fox except me, and all these guys don’t drink except me.’”

He ended the joke by telling the audience, “The secret to my success is drinking,” prompting loud laughter, before adding another jab at fellow Fox News host Greg Gutfeld, who he joked does not drink, drawing an even bigger reaction from the crowd.