Fox News Host Jesse Watters Faces Backlash Over SAVE Act Misinformation

Fox News host Jesse Watters has drawn sharp criticism following an on-air exchange where he shared inaccurate information about proposed voter ID legislation while dismissing factual corrections from a colleague.

During a recent Fox News segment, Watters, 47, engaged in a heated debate with Democratic political strategist Jessica Tarlov, 41, over the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — a Republican-backed bill that would significantly change voter registration requirements for federal elections.

The dispute began when Tarlov accurately explained that the SAVE Act would require citizens to present specific documentation such as a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, or naturalization papers when registering to vote. Importantly, these documents would need to be presented in person, effectively eliminating online and mail-in registration options for many Americans.

“What the SAVE Act does is that it requires that you either have your birth certificate or your passport, which is different than accepting a driver’s license, for instance,” Tarlov explained.

Watters immediately challenged her explanation, interjecting, “I don’t know if that’s true.” When Tarlov encouraged him to read the bill, Watters responded dismissively, “I will, and then tomorrow we’ll have to correct it.” He then made the unfounded claim: “There’s no way this bill requires people to show up with their birth certificates. Then Barack [Obama] wouldn’t register.”

Tarlov characterized the Obama comment as “disgusting,” prompting Watters to add, “We believe he’s American.”

The exchange quickly drew widespread condemnation on social media, where viewers criticized Watters for spreading misinformation about legislation he appeared not to have read. One viewer called his behavior “insane,” while another commented, “Watters is too lazy to actually understand the bill that’s now the right’s cause celebre.”

Another critic noted, “Saying there’s no way isn’t a rebuttal. Read the bill! You’re unsure, don’t dismiss verify. Facts > vibes.”

The disputed legislation is part of a broader Republican-led effort to implement stricter voting requirements nationwide. The package, released last month, includes several measures long sought by conservatives, including mandatory photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship — both slated for implementation in 2027 if passed.

Other provisions would take immediate effect, including prohibitions on universal vote-by-mail and ranked-choice voting, despite these methods gaining popularity in several states. The push comes as former President Donald Trump continues to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election was fraudulent.

Rep. Bryan Steil, chairman of the House Administration Committee, defended the legislation, stating: “Americans should be confident their elections are being run with integrity — including commonsense voter ID requirements, clean voter rolls, and citizenship verification.”

The SAVE Act represents a significant departure from standard voter ID laws by requiring specific federal documentation rather than state-issued IDs like driver’s licenses. Critics argue this distinction creates substantial barriers to voter registration that would disproportionately impact certain communities.

While Republicans frame these proposals as election integrity measures, Democrats and voting rights advocates view them as unnecessary restrictions that could suppress legitimate voter participation. The debate highlights the ongoing partisan divide over election administration in America as the country approaches the 2024 election cycle.