Jesse Watters says Kamala Harris was 'not hot' while debating Democrats' 2028 candidate appeal

WASHINGTON, DC: Fox News host Jesse Watters drew attention during a panel discussion when he said he did not find former Vice President Kamala Harris "hot" while explaining why Democrats should have a more attractive presidential candidate in 2028.

The comments came during a segment of ‘The Five,' where the co-hosts discussed about a larger media debate on the issue of candidate appeal and electability.

Panel debate turns to candidate image and media influence

The segment featured multiple co-hosts weighing in on whether attractiveness influences voter perception.

Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary, kicked off the debate by noting the seemingly androcentric nature of the “hot” requirement after Fox played a clip of two women calling for an attractive male candidate.

“Notice that it’s the women, the women aren’t suggesting that there is a democratic woman they would like to put forward, right?” Perino asked.

She then described Harris as “an objectively beautiful person,” adding that her 2024 loss indicated that voter decisions are driven more by policy than looks.

“To me, Kamala Harris was an objectively beautiful person, and she couldn’t win, so I don’t think that’s what it is. I also think people are watching too much Love Story,” Perino stated.

Co-host Emily Compagno went on to ponder if the so-called “hot” candidate requirement “stems from the media fawning over Gavin Newsom.”

Next, Watters jumped in to continue the hot-or-not style debate. “I have to disagree with Dana,” he said. “I didn’t think Kamala was hot.”

His comments led to immediate pushback from co-hosts, who challenged both the framing and tone of the discussion.

Jesse Watters receives pushback

Greg Gutfeld suggested that voters are more drawn to ideas than appearance, while also engaging in the broader discussion about public image.

“No, she was attractive,” Gutfeld spoke over him.

“I said she was beautiful,” Perino corrected Watters. “I didn’t say hot.”

Gutfeld offered up Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as a “hot” candidate, which Watters immediately shut down.

“I’m not going to go there,” he said, before doubling down on his comments about Harris.

“I don’t know,” Watters said.

“I mean, she was okay. But if we’re talking hot, she’s not hot. Did you ever see the politicians before television? It was like old fat guys with no hair, with like mutton chop sideburns. So, TV is the thing,” he added.

“You’ve got to have a good-looking person."

Co-host Jessica Tarlov condemned the conversation, labeling it “ridiculous.”

“This is just being a normal human being,” she said. “AOC is hot, [Michigan Gov.] Gretchen Whitmer is very hot, Kamala Harris is ver—alright”

“I’m just saying, all of this is ridiculous. You want to be in good shape so you stay alive if you do decide you want to run for president,” Tarlove mentioned.

However, the idea Watters kept pushing was that television and the media in general have transformed the process of evaluating candidates.

He brought up earlier periods in politics, comparing previous leaders with the present media-driven world.