Internet Culture

#FartGate takes over Twitter after lawmaker appears to pass gas on live television

Rep. Eric Swalwell says it wasn’t him.

Photo of Alexandra Samuels

Alexandra Samuels

fart gate

Just when you thought the political news cycle couldn’t get any more strange.

Featured Video

Amidst an impeachment inquiry and a zany presidential election cycle, flatulence is the one thing that appears to be taking over the internet—and bringing us all together. 

On Monday night, during an interview with MSNBC host Chris Matthew, former Democratic presidential nominee and California Rep. Eric Swalwell appeared to—uh—rip an enormous fart. 

Advertisement

“Chris, so far the evidence is uncontradicted that the president used taxpayer dollars to help him cheat an election,” Swalwell said from the Capitol, appearing to stifle his laughter after the fart is heard. 

Of course, the clip spread far and wide on the internet—with the appropriate hashtag, #FartGate.

Advertisement

“I have seen the #fartgate clip multiple times. I laugh out loud each time. It is just amazing. It’s the Moby Dick of farts. The King Kong. The Big Kahuna. It’s the Apex Predator of farts. If you think farts are beneath you, well, you are correct but you’re missing out on life,” wrote Wajahat Ali on Twitter.

Advertisement

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/Eric_Fartwell/status/1196676182198177794

Advertisement

Even Donald Trump Jr. weighed in. 

Advertisement

In a text to BuzzFeed News, Swalwell denied being the person who passed gas—but we believe there’s a saying about those who denied it…

“It was not me!!!!!” he wrote. “Ha. And I didn’t hear it when I was speaking.”

Advertisement

Advertisement

MSNBC later tried to explain the noise on Twitter, saying it was due to a “mug scraping across the desk.”

Advertisement

…but not everyone is buying that. 

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/theneedledrop/status/1196672017862463488

READ MORE:

Advertisement
 
The Daily Dot