Overview

• Rep. Eric Swalwell issued a bench press challenge on X after Greg Gutfeld mocked his gym videos, proposing a 10-rep contest that would force the loser to resign and nicknaming Gutfeld “GUTLESSfeld” if he declined.
• On August 1, Gutfeld formally rejected the wager on his late-night show, roasting Swalwell’s physique and referencing alleged ties to a Chinese operative in his response.
• No match has been scheduled more than 48 hours after the challenge was issued, leaving the original bet unresolved.
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s offer to step in for Gutfeld or complete a minimum of five reps remains on the table, but Swalwell has not accepted the alternative.
• The exchange has drawn widespread social media ridicule of Swalwell’s bench press performance and underscored the theatrical nature of physical stunts in political discourse.