Tomi Lahren filled in for Jesse Watters (Image: Fox)

After Tomi Lahren filled in for Jesse Watters on Fox News, fans were quick to praise the political commentator for taking over the longtime anchor’s slot.

Lahren announced her appearance on X ahead of the live broadcast, sparking excitement among viewers who tuned in. “Thank you. Much better than the cocky Jesse Watters,” one Fox viewer wrote. Another added, “Will be watching, make it spicy!” A third Watters fan commented, “Wow primetime, good for you. Good luck,” while a fourth posted, “Awesome job tonight Tomi!”

Lahren’s guest appearance comes just a day after Jesse Watters hosted a segment with newly minted Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, where the discussion focused on the Justice Department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Blanche assumed the acting role on Thursday following President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Sources indicate the president’s frustration with the DOJ stemmed from its inability to prosecute several high-profile targets, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Bondi had previously faced criticism over her handling of the Epstein case. In February 2025, she claimed to possess Epstein’s long-rumored client list, only to later state that no such list existed. When Congress required the DOJ to release all materials related to Epstein, the department delayed providing the files past the legally mandated deadline.

Jesse Watters is the recurring host (Image: Getty)

During Thursday’s broadcast, Watters questioned Blanche about the files. “Now, the Epstein files,” Watters asked. “You’d agree – not handled well?”

“First of all, I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was– anything that happened to her had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche replied. “And so, look, the Epstein files has been a saga that’s lasted for the past year. And what happened when the president signed the transparency act is that the Department of Justice has now released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga.”

Blanche’s claim that all files have been released remains disputed among lawmakers from both parties. He continued, “So I think to the extent the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it should not be a part of anything going forward.”

Fox fans were quick to praise the political commentator (Image: Getty)

Watters then asked if Epstein was spying for a foreign country. “Ok, well, I mean, you’ve combed through these files, right? Who was Epstein spying for?”

“Look, everything – I don’t know that he was spying for anybody. Nobody’s ever said that,” Blanche said.

Watters then asked, “No? You don’t think he might’ve been a spy for a foreign country?”

Blanche replied, “I have no idea if he was a spy. All I know is that we don’t have any evidence in the Epstein files that the FBI collected over 15 years that suggest that, Jesse. I wasn’t– I don’t know. I wasn’t part of the original prosecution team. Neither was attorney general Bondi. And I can tell you this – there’s only one president that’s held Mr. Epstein accountable and that’s Donald J. Trump.”

He continued, “During his first administration, that was the administration that prosecuted him and during this administration it’s the administration that’s been totally transparent and released all the files. And no matter how much criticism people want to make about the Epstein files that is indisputable.”

Blanche concluded, “It’s indisputable that nobody talked about the Epstein files for four years during Biden, four years. And so when President Trump said let’s release the Epstein files and the law was passed that allowed us to legally do it, we did it.”