--- title: "El-Sayed asks Watters if he is circumcised during Fox News interview" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/el-sayed-asks-watters-if-he-is-circumcised-during-fox-news-interview" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/el-sayed-asks-watters-if-he-is-circumcised-during-fox-news-interview" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/el-sayed-asks-watters-if-he-is-circumcised-during-fox-news-interview.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/el-sayed-asks-watters-if-he-is-circumcised-during-fox-news-interview" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-25T12:25:14.247Z" source_reported: "2026-08-25T10:19:34.000Z" updated: "2026-08-25T12:25:14.247Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-25T12:15:11.610276+00:00" --- # El-Sayed asks Watters if he is circumcised during Fox News interview *The exchange occurred during a discussion about gender-affirming care for minors.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates/locations. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Quotes affected parties, separates fact from comment, and details what happens next. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with notable sensationalism and loaded adjectives. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, asked Fox News host Jesse Watters if he was circumcised during an interview. - The question arose during a debate about gender-affirming care for minors. - El-Sayed used circumcision as a comparison to defend his stance on medical procedures for minors. - The interview also covered topics including immigration, Sharia law, and taxing the wealthy. During a television interview, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed asked Fox News host Jesse Watters if he was circumcised. The exchange took place on Monday during a discussion about gender-affirming care for minors. Watters had pressed El-Sayed on his views regarding medical interventions for young people. ## Disagreement on the comparison HuffPost reported that El-Sayed defended his position by comparing it to circumcision. In contrast, NewsBusters described Watters as confronting El-Sayed about castrating children versus circumcision, and The Post Millennial stated El-Sayed compared child sex change castration to circumcision. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention El-Sayed's defence of his stance on Sharia law, which was reported by right-rated outlets such as Washington Examiner and Fox News. Similarly, none of the centre-rated digests mention El-Sayed's specific comments on Sharia law. ## Who covered it Shares of the 26 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 23% (6) - Centre: 15% (4) - Right: 62% (16) 3 of 29 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-25T12:15:11.610276+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-25T12:30:11.552Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the personal question El-Sayed posed to Jesse Watters. HuffPost described the exchange as a "bonkers" detour and an effort to disarm the host. CNN and The Independent noted the question came after Watters asked about gender-affirming surgery for minors. Raw Story highlighted that Watters was "squirms" after the question, and Mediaite stated the interview took a "bizarre turn." ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted the clash between El-Sayed and Watters on various issues. Newsweek noted the interview covered transgender athletes, health care, and culture-war topics. Alabama Live mentioned El-Sayed slamming Senator Tuberville over Sharia law during the exchange with Watters. The Hill stated the interview involved clashes over gas prices, Sharia law, healthcare, and gender-affirming care. ### Right - Right-rated reports frequently framed the interview as a "train wreck" or a "fail" for El-Sayed. Many focused on the candidate's question about circumcision, often linking it directly to his defence of sex change surgeries for minors. RedState suggested the appearance "may sink his chances." The Gateway Pundit stated El-Sayed "tries to filibuster his way" through the interview. Breitbart and The Post Millennial highlighted El-Sayed's comments on sex changes for minors, with The Post Millennial quoting Watters saying, "Circumcision is different than castration." **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 2 - low: 5 - mixed: 9 - high: 10 - unknown: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/abdul-el-sayed-asks-jesse-watters-if-hes-circumcised_n_6a8d5799e4b07583705b44fa) — Abdul El-Sayed Asks Jesse Watters If He's Circumcised In Bonkers Exchange - [Adevarul](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/sua/sunteti-circumcis-momentul-in-care-un-candidat-2551956.html) — "Are You Circumcised?" the Moment when a Democratic Candidate Left the Fox News Presenter Unrepealed. - [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/abdul-el-sayed-clashes-with-jesse-watters-on-fox-news-five-key-takeaways-12362273) — Abdul El-Sayed clashes with Jesse Watters on Fox News: Five key takeaways - [RedState](https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/08/25/el-sayed-appearance-with-jesse-watters-n2206025) — Hoo Boy: El-Sayed's Train Wreck Appearance With Jesse Watters May Sink His Chances - [Tippahnews.com](https://tippahnews.com/national-news/michigan-senate-candidate-abdul-el-sayed-clashes-with-fox-news-host-jesse-watters-over-immigration-iran) — Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed clashes with Fox News host Jesse Watters over immigration, Iran - [cedarnews.net](https://cedarnews.net/newstasks/949464/el-sayed-spars-jesse-watters-fox-news-immigration) — El-Sayed spars with Jesse Watters on Fox News on immigration, Iran war: ‘Let me just answer the question’ - [The Last Refuge](https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/08/25/jesse-waters-debates-islamic-dsa-candidate-abdul-al-sayed) — Jesse Watters Debates Islamic DSA Candidate Abdul El-Sayed - [CNN](https://cnn.com/2026/08/24/politics/video/el-sayed-confronted-about-culture-wars-on-fox-news-lcl) — El-Sayed confronted about culture wars on Fox News - [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/08/24/michigan-senate-candidate-asks-jesse-watters-are-you-circumcised) — Michigan Senate Candidate Asks Jesse Watters ‘Are You Circumcised?’ - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/fail-abdul-el-sayed-tries-filibuster-his-way) — Abdul El-Sayed Tries to Filibuster His Way Through Interview With Jesse Watters - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4698959/el-sayed-sharia-law-mike-rogers-beta) — El Sayed says 'preemptively' banning sharia is discriminatory - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/24/el-sayed-on-sex-changes-for-minors-i-remember-right-to-try-government-shouldnt-dictate-healthcare) — El-Sayed on Sex Changes for Minors: I Remember 'Right to Try', Government Shouldn't Dictate Healthcare - [WLTReport](https://wltreport.com/2026/08/24/senate-candidate-abdul-el-sayed-asks-fox-news-host-jesse-watters-if-hes-circumcised-while-defending-sex-change-surgeries-for-children) — Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Asks Fox News Host Jesse Watters If He’s Circumcised While Defending Sex Change Surgeries For Children - [Alabama Live](https://al.com/politics/2026/08/abdul-el-sayed-slams-tuberville-over-sharia-law-he-barely-was-good-at-coaching-football.html) — Abdul El-Sayed slams Tuberville over Sharia law: He ‘barely was good at coaching football’ - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/abdul-el-sayed-grilled-on-past-statements-on-sharia-law-and-white-supremacy-taxing-the-rich) — Abdul El-Sayed grilled on past statements on Sharia law and White supremacy, taxing the rich - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [Restoring Liberty](https://joemiller.us/2026/08/abdul-el-sayed-asks-fox-news-host-are-you-circumcised-in-bizarre-moment-as-he-defends-sex-change-surgery-for-minors) — Abdul El-Sayed asks Fox News Host ‘Are you circumcised?’ in Bizarre Moment as He Defends Sex Change Surgery for Minors - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6048221-el-sayed-watters-fox-news-clash) — El-Sayed and Watters clash in Fox News interview over culture war, gas prices - [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/abdul-el-sayed-grilled-on-past-statements-on-sharia-law-and-white-supremacy-taxing-the-rich) — Abdul El-Sayed grilled on past statements on Sharia law and White supremacy, taxing the rich – Democratic Accent - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/08/24/abdul-el-sayed-grilled-on-past-statements-on-sharia-law-and-white-supremacy-taxing-the-rich) — Abdul El-Sayed grilled on past statements on Sharia law and White supremacy, taxing the rich - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/media/abdul-el-sayed-grilled-past-statements-sharia-law-white-supremacy-taxing-rich) — Abdul El-Sayed grilled on past statements on Sharia law and White supremacy, taxing the rich - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/abdul-el-sayed-jesse-watters-circumcised-b3038567.html) — Abdul El-Sayed asks Jesse Watters if he is circumcised during combative interview - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/abdul-el-sayed-jesse-watters-circumcised-b3038567.html) — Abdul El-Sayed asks Jesse Watters if he is circumcised during combative interview - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/jesse-watters-2677772063) — Jesse Watters squirms after blunt 'personal question' left him cornered on his show - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/24/us-news/abdul-el-sayed-asks-jesse-watters-are-you-circumcised-while-defending-sex-change-surgery-for-minors) — Abdul El-Sayed asks Fox News’ Jesse Watters ‘Are you circumcised?’ in bizarre moment as he defends sex change surgery for minors - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/tv/fox-news-interview-takes-bizarre-turn-when-abdul-el-sayed-asks-jesse-watters-are-you-circumcised) — Fox News Interview Takes Bizarre Turn When Abdul El-Sayed Asks Jesse Watters, ‘Are You Circumcised?’ - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/abdul-el-sayed-compares-child-sex-change-castration-to-circumcision-in-jaw-dropping-interview) — Abdul El-Sayed compares child sex change castration to circumcision in jaw-dropping interview - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2026/08/24/el-sayed-jesse-watters-n2431655) — Jesse Watters Asks El-Sayed If Castrating Kids Is Cool — He Replies It’s Basically Just Circumcision - [Real Clear Politics](https://realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/08/24/abdul_el_sayed_debates_fncs_jesse_watters_on_healthcare_taxes.html) — El-Sayed Debates ICE, Green New Deal, Taxes, More - [NewsBusters](https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jorge-bonilla/2026/08/24/are-you-circumcised-wildest-moments-jesse-watters-abdul-el-sayed) — 'ARE YOU CIRCUMCISED?' The Wildest Moments from the Jesse Watters-Abdul El-Sayed Interview ## Questions **What happened during the interview between Abdul El-Sayed and Jesse Watters?** During an interview discussing gender-affirming care for minors, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed asked Fox News host Jesse Watters if he was circumcised. El-Sayed used the question to draw a comparison to defend his position on medical procedures for minors. **What was the context of El-Sayed's question about circumcision?** Jesse Watters had pressed El-Sayed on his stance regarding sex changes for minors. El-Sayed then asked Watters if he was circumcised, comparing it to other medical procedures on minors. **What other topics were discussed in the interview?** Beyond the exchange about gender-affirming care, the interview also covered subjects including immigration, Sharia law, and taxing the wealthy, according to multiple reports. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. 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