A Christmas tree outside of Fox News HQ in New York City wound up engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning.
The destruction of the massive 50 foot tall red, white and blue-themed tree is suspected to be arson and NYPD officers have since arrested a possible suspect.
Dramatic video clips of the tree burning down have since gone viral on social media, with one video racking up more than 1.5 million views.
🚨#BREAKING: Fox News Christmas tree has caught fire outside their HQ on the Avenue of the Americas 📌 #Manhattan l… https://t.co/S2Qh2xCsXw— R A W S A L E R T S (@R A W S A L E R T S) 1638942758
Fox News says the tree will be replaced soon.
The hosts of “Fox & Friends” called the man taken into custody as a “psycho.”
“‘It’s beginning to look a lot like arson,” said Steve Doocy, adding later in the segment that the incident highlighted a much larger issue of “safety” in New York City.
“It goes to the much larger issue of safety. We’ve been talking for a very long time, this city is going south when it comes to safety. We don’t feel safe when we come to work in the morning and we don’t feel safe when we go home at night.”
After saying that the arsonist was “maybe homeless” Ainsley Earhardt said of the tree: “I hope we build it back bigger and better.”
And while committing crimes such as arson is never acceptable, people on Twitter didn’t hold back with their responses, and it would be a shame not to share some of the tweets that sparked a chuckle.
The irony of it all was not lost on folks
Many poked fun at the conservative’s frequent expression of a ‘war on Christmas’
A great victory in the war on Christmas 👍 https://t.co/gacUGAnqOP— its just pooch (@its just pooch) 1638967459
The war on Christmas is winning. https://t.co/h7c6tbxoJK— Theo ✡︎ טוביה ☭ 🏳️🌈 (@Theo ✡︎ טוביה ☭ 🏳️🌈) 1638968752
It’s a metaphor for what they’re doing to the country https://t.co/OdA9eDtJJD— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1638967612
Some had a response ready to go
@MollyJongFast When you’re gaslighting the country every night, there’s bound to be a flammable leak.— John Powers (@John Powers) 1638967722
Safety reminder: never place your tree close to a dumpster fire https://t.co/cdWcycabjY— maura quint (@maura quint) 1638968722
...Others struggled to find the right words to comment on the incident
https://t.co/uMRjeiLwg2 https://t.co/fGorBgYKBC— Andrew Roth (@Andrew Roth) 1638972121
Same video but with some music
i added some music to make the fox christmas tree fire a bit more festive (you’re welcome) https://t.co/012yVRgtPU— hi, i’m cory 👋🏾 (@hi, i’m cory 👋🏾) 1638948508
No, this isn’t a gender reveal
Damn who has their gender reveal at the Fox News Christmas tree? https://t.co/06gS8X4zuH— Blake Hammond Cincinnati Jan 13-16 (@Blake Hammond Cincinnati Jan 13-16) 1638969880
Just purely savage
Maybe the Fox News Christmas tree spontaneously combusted out of sheer embarrassment.— 💀 Scary Larry 💀 🇺🇸🌊✊🏻🗽 (@💀 Scary Larry 💀 🇺🇸🌊✊🏻🗽) 1638972090
New York really is back. https://t.co/a06cLzWKEX— Joe Harris (@Joe Harris) 1638972115
Is the "suspect" Melania? Remember how much she loved "de Fooking Chreeestmas decorations"? https://t.co/FVFHTeRpqI— anne My epitaph will say "She Meant Well" (@anne My epitaph will say "She Meant Well") 1638971786
marvel's inferno marketing team is v good https://t.co/irawCmJ2db— alex (@alex) 1638971763
Asked for comment, a Fox News representative said "We couldn't find any crosses". https://t.co/YftdCc21Gc— Ugly Kid Joel (@Ugly Kid Joel) 1638971758
When even Jesus is sick of your shit. https://t.co/JFqjM48mbr— Crash Thompson (@Crash Thompson) 1638971440
God is not mocked. https://t.co/xi4YyAjMFq— Charles P. Pierce (@Charles P. Pierce) 1638971145
The Grinch would never
@6NewsAU @NBCNewYork Suspect heard muttering “Now MY tree is the taller one!” as he was taken away https://t.co/k4aiOnhOrM— Turing Pest (@Turing Pest) 1638949341
Police have taken into custody a green man for further questioning. More to come at 10. https://t.co/4Zy1vb5cox— JD McOffseason (@JD McOffseason) 1638972104