Fact Check: Yes, Trump's Defense Secretary Pick Pete Hegseth Once Said 'Germs Are Not a Real Thing'Claim:Pete Hegseth said "Germs are not a real thing. Hegseth did say these words in a Feb. 10, 2019, edition of "Fox & Friends Sunday." Following through on that promise, he told his co-hosts that he had not washed his hands in 10 years because "germs are not a real thing. As reported by The Guardian, Hegseth largely walked back his comments, deriding the media for taking his words seriously:On Twitter ..., Hegseth gave mixed messages. "'Germs Are Not a Real Thing': Fox News Host Says He Hasn't Washed Hands in 10 Years."
