New York, NY – May 24, 2025, 06:19 AM ET – Fox News host Jesse Watters, known for stirring controversy, has ignited a firestorm across America after revealing the middle names of his twin daughters, Sophie and Ellie, on a recent episode of Jesse Watters Primetime. The 46-year-old conservative commentator, who welcomed the twins with his first wife, Noelle Inguagiato, in November 2011, shared that he had spent years deliberating over their middle names, finally announcing them as Sophie Liberty and Ellie Valor during a segment celebrating family values on May 22, 2025. What Watters intended as a patriotic gesture quickly spiraled into a heated national debate.
Watters explained on air that the names were chosen to reflect American ideals, saying, “Liberty and Valor are what this country stands for—freedom and courage. I wanted my girls to carry that legacy.” However, the announcement, made during a discussion on traditional family roles, drew sharp reactions. Critics accused Watters of pushing a nationalist agenda, while supporters praised the names as a bold statement of patriotism. The timing, amid ongoing cultural debates about identity and heritage, only amplified the controversy.
On X, the hashtag #WattersTwinsNames trended within hours, with opinions sharply divided. One user wrote, “Jesse naming his twins Liberty and Valor is peak patriotism—love it!” Another countered, “Using kids’ names to push a political agenda? That’s low, even for Watters.” Some pointed to Watters’ past controversies, including his comments on masculinity and political figures, to argue that the names were another attempt to provoke. Others, referencing his 2021 book How I Saved the World, saw it as consistent with his brand of unapologetic conservatism.
The debate spilled onto The Five, where Watters’ co-host Jeanine Pirro supported his choice, saying, “It’s his family—why can’t he honor America through his kids’ names?” Meanwhile, guest panelist Richard Fowler pushed back, noting, “Names should be about the child, not a political statement. This feels performative.” Watters, smirking, responded, “If you’re offended by Liberty and Valor, maybe you’re the one with the problem.”
Watters, a father of four—Sophie and Ellie from his marriage to Inguagiato, and Jesse Jr. and Georgina with his current wife, Emma DiGiovine—has often spoken about instilling values like respect and hard work in his children. However, this move has drawn scrutiny, with some questioning whether the names were a genuine family decision or a calculated play for attention, given his history of provocative statements, such as his 2024 remarks about men voting for Kamala Harris having “mommy issues.”
The controversy has even caught the attention of Watters’ own family. His mother, Anne Purvis, a child psychologist with a journalism lineage, reportedly called into his show, urging him to “focus on being a dad, not a headline.” Watters laughed it off, but the debate shows no signs of slowing. As America grapples with its identity, the middle names of two 13-year-old girls have become an unexpected flashpoint, reflecting the deep divides Watters often navigates—and fuels—on air.