“The Five’s” Geraldo Rivera and Greg Gutfeld got into a heated spat about the Biden administration’s ambitious new electric car initiative.
The White House announced the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to “protect public health” by creating stricter emissions standards that would force 67% of new sedan, crossover, SUV and light truck sales to be electric by 2032.
During Fox News’ weekday opinion round table, Rivera waxed poetic about how Tesla prices were dropping and that he believed increased manufacturing would further reduce electric vehicle costs.
He noted that despite only being 6% of the new car market share, the “trend lines” of EV sales were going “straight up,” and that the market was dictating the conversion from gas to electric cars.
Panelist Jesse Watters said the market wasn’t dictating the increase in sales, the “government” was.
Rivera claimed that the $7,500 EV tax credit coming from the Inflation Reduction Act, which goes into effect April 18, “is not a big deal” to American consumers.
“I was gonna buy an EV Bentley,” Rivera said as Gutfeld put a hand over his face and shook his head in astonishment.
“They offered me a $7,500 rebate. I said, I don’t need the $7,500.”
“Thank God you connect with our audience,” Gutfeld remarked sarcastically.
Rivera said that the private sector is changing more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated.
“Electric powered vehicles have 60% efficiency in terms of the conversion of energy to the wheels turning. Gas-powered is 17% to 21%,” he detailed.
“Electric vehicles are three times more energy efficient in terms of making your car go than gas-powered.”
Rivera added that those stats alone were “enough to dictate this monumental change which is happening regardless.”
Co-panelist Jeanine Pirro countered that “the message ain’t getting out because Americans don’t want to buy ’em.”
She noted that the batteries in EV’s were unable to be repaired, huge, and extremely expensive to replace.
Dana Perino pointed out that the batteries don’t get recycled, which is “great for child laborers in Congo, who get buried alive trying to mine these minerals for everybody who wants these electric cars.”
Gutfeld chimed in and said he was “trying to control” himself, and when Rivera asked why, he explained it was because Geraldo mentioned an EV Bentley.
“You just explained why people like you find it so easy to sermonize about electric vehicles, because you can afford it,” Gutfeld pointed out.
“Are you attacking me?” Rivera questioned, and Gurtfeld said it was because he deserved it.
“The thing is, what I’m pointing out is, you just said “EV Bentley” to our audience, right?” hebegan.
“Who has to pay for the charging stations? Our audience. Who has to pay for the transition from gas to electric stoves? Our audience.”
Rivera impotently questioned who was going to pay for the cancer American’s get from gas-powered vehicles.
“Oh God, you don’t even have the science to back that up,” Gutfeld shot back.
“You have to bear the brunt of your beliefs, and you don’t because you can afford an EV Bentley. You’re telling our audience to suck on it!”
Rivera asked Gutfeld to list out the kind of cars that he drives, and the comedian replied a Chrysler.
“A $45,000 car, yes,” he snarked. “Yeah, I know. It’s no Bentley. I’m sorry, Geraldo.”
Gutfeld moved the conversation on after telling Rivera that he “stepped in it,” but he would back off for the sake of civility.
In a very heated monologue, he said that packaging climate change with equity social governance made it impossible for Americans to go against the government’s green agenda without being deemed racist or bigoted.
Gutfeld said that none of the government’s climate predictions have come true, and they’re “forcing American’s to do this over less than 1% Celsius.”
“It has no effect,” he hissed and noted that as the climate gets warmer, it positively impacts society.
“People die from cold weather, more frequently than warm weather, so don’t give me your cancer B.S.,” he snapped while pointing Rivera.
Geraldo countered that the smog was so thick when he moved to California, he couldn’t see across the 405 Freeway.
Gutfeld screamed that Rivera wanted to force people to buy EV’s because he could afford it, while emphasizing his thought with a jabbing finger.
“Stop pointing at me!” Rivera shouted across the table. “Stop pointing at me!”