All sorts of things could happen, for better or worse, during a television broadcast. This recently became an issue during coverage of a story concerning President Donald Trump. Viewers got something of a surprise at the time that involved footage of a man and a cigarette.
President Donald Trump Was Recently Touring A Facility In Reading, Ohio
Fox 19 is a Fox affiliate in Ohio. Recently, a reporter for the station, Alexis Martin, appeared on camera to cover a story concerning President Donald Trump.
At the time, Trump was visiting Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio. While there, he toured the facility and discussed his TrumpRx plan. Through it, the president hoped to give Americans easier access to affordable pharmaceutical drugs.
During Martin’s coverage, however, a man walked behind her. He then lit up a cigarette as he walked toward the camera.
Noticing that he was in frame, the man held up the cigarette to show the viewers at home. He then turned the lit cigarette around, popping it into his mouth on live television. As he bit down, the broadcast then cut to footage of President Trump.
The clip has since gone viral on social media. Thanks to this, many fans speculated about what was going on in the clip. In particular, many wondered if the man in the video indeed intended to eat the cigarette or was simply doing a trick.
Some People Thought It Was A Magic Trick, Other People Called It A Mood
On social media, one person gave a possible explanation for what the man was doing. Taking to X, they shared, “He doesn’t eat it, bro. We used to flick cigarettes in our mouth and back out with our tongue when we were young. I did it a bunch of times. Saliva protects from the initial burn, and you have time to take it out.”
Another person described it as a trick. As they wrote, “Literally a magic trick done for years.” They added, “This is pathetic,” possibly in reference to people thinking the man was really going to eat the cigarette.
NEW: Ohio man lights a cigarette and eats it during a live Fox 19 broadcast about President Trump’s visit to Cincinnati.
Reporter Alexis Martin was live reporting when the man in the background was seen shoving the cigarette in his mouth.
The man then started chewing the… pic.twitter.com/RZJbAiDgHk
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 12, 2026
On social media, people shared multiple reactions to the story. Some reacted to the moment with good humor, and others even took it as a mood. Of course, some were left with further questions, like who the mysterious man was. A few comments included:
- “Even cigarettes aren’t safe from public curiosity … Reporters really have to be ready for any surprise during live coverage.”
- “I can’t tell if this is performance art, a dare gone wrong, or pure chaos but watching someone literally chew a cigarette on live TV is peak 2026 energy. Only in Ohio.”
- “Local news always delivers the most unhinged moments. While the world is watching the political implications of the President’s visit, Ohio man is out here literally eating a lit cigarette on live TV. It’s a bizarre reminder that no matter how serious the headlines are, there’s always something completely chaotic happening in the background.”
- “Is the identity of this cool guy known?”
What is your reaction to this viral moment? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
