Fox News host Jesse Watters faced an unexpected moment on Monday, October 20, 2025, when he shared during The Five that his mother participated in the anti-Trump “No Kings” protests just two days prior.
The statement came as Watters discussed the large-scale demonstrations that took place across the country on Saturday, October 18, 2025, which involved an estimated 4.5 to 6.5 million people.
While on air, Watters appeared uncomfortable as he mentioned that his mother, Anne Purvis, a child psychologist and Democrat, attended one of the rallies. “I know my mom was there. Can you believe my mom was there? Sometimes I think I was adopted,” Watters told his fellow hosts. The 47-year-old reiterated this during his primetime show, noting the No Kings event included people he termed as having ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome,’ a phrase he has used before.
Watters continued to criticize the protesters, suggesting that they, including his mother, were overly focused on President Donald Trump, likening their behavior to an addiction. He stated that while some, like his mother, knew their reasons for marching, many attendees lacked a clear purpose.
He further argued that the protest movement’s impact was minimal and claimed past demonstrations, including the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter rallies, and Musk-related protests, had negatively affected Democrats politically. Watters said that despite these efforts, liberals had lost cultural and political influence. He also accused Democrats of hypocrisy, suggesting they enjoyed governmental control over healthcare and speech.
Saturday’s demonstrations attracted large crowds across at least 2,500 cities and towns nationwide. Organizers estimated that five to seven million participants would attend, potentially making it one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history, comparable to the 2017 Women’s March. Notable figures, including actors Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cusack, and Ben Stiller, as well as director Spike Lee and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, attended.
Protesters opposed Trump’s perceived authoritarian tendencies, with many wearing colorful inflatable animal costumes popular at anti-ICE protests in Portland, Oregon. Signs at rallies included slogans like “For the Epsteinth time… No Kings,” and “Impeach Trump again.” Organizers described the demonstrations as largely peaceful, though reports of violence and arrests emerged from cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois, especially near Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
According to preliminary data from American University researchers and reported by Axios, nearly 90 percent of No Kings participants identified with the political left. The typical attendee was described as an educated white woman in her 40s.
Protesters raised issues regarding Trump administration actions, including immigration raids, the revocation of visas by the State Department for six foreigners who allegedly mocked the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, and the temporary suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC show after remarks about Kirk’s killer being a Trump supporter.
The public political differences between Watters and his mother have been a recurring topic on Fox News. In 2023, Purvis called into her son’s show to advise him to “be kind and respectful” and steer clear of conspiracy theories. Watters previously featured a segment called “Mom Texts,” where he read his mother’s critiques on air. One 2017 message stated: “Oh my goodness! And you actually believe Trump is not divisive!!! You’ve been swallowed by semantic quicksand!!!”
In 2024, Watters revealed he was not invited to Thanksgiving after Trump’s election victory, with his mother citing scheduling conflicts and space issues. When offered a Black Friday invitation, he declined, stating he’d be at Best Buy instead. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2018 that his praise for Trump during the Thanksgiving period after the 2016 election led to family disputes, as the Obama years had been difficult for gatherings.
President Trump responded to the No Kings protests by initially asserting he was not a king, then sharing an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown while piloting a fighter jet labeled “KING TRUMP,” dropping a brown liquid resembling feces on protesters. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, calling the video “satire” and stating the president’s social media use is effective.
Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, announced a potential investigation into Kimmel and ABC after the late-night host’s comments. Trump has previously suggested revoking broadcast licenses for negative coverage and has barred reporters from certain networks from covering his presidency.