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This may be the most attention that MSNBC’s “Hardball” show with Chris Matthews has ever gotten.

But while Matthews was interviewing Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on the show, Swalwell appeared to let rip a very loud fart on live television, as we reported last night.

Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat and former 2020 hopeful, appears to have farted on live television while discussing the impeachment into Donald Trump.

I cannot believe I am actually typing these words. https://t.co/M8CT5IIkn2

— Chris Riotta (@chrisriotta) November 19, 2019

Yes, it was real, it wasn’t added in later and it immediately became the number one trending topic on Twitter.

Swalwell denied it.

NEWS: SWALWELL denies it was him who farted on MSNBC: pic.twitter.com/IYmHwYfuGf

— Addy Baird (@addysue) November 19, 2019

Some thought that Chris Matthews might be behind it.

Sound guy weighs in on #fartgate pic.twitter.com/pq7S0nej1b

— Oshwood ULTRA (@DaveOshry) November 19, 2019

Unless you’re telling me that thing bounced through the echoey Capitol building, into Swalwell’s lav mic, through control to the main audio, then that is one magic fart. There is also, of course, the possibility that there was a second farter. #fartgate #fin

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 19, 2019

But whatever the story, people were having fun and it united the Internet.

#FartGate is trending #1 nationally on Twitter pic.twitter.com/5dMvNX7N4B

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 19, 2019

Breaking …

AOC has just announce that due to Eric Swalwell’s thunderous fart – planet Earth now has only 8 years before it explodes into hellfire and ash from global warming.

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) November 19, 2019

Most intelligible thing to come out of Swalwell in years. #fartgate https://t.co/LT7MXAkIRB

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 19, 2019

https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/1196646295605252096

#FartGate: Infrared Evidencepic.twitter.com/CR1dRb9gAH

— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@Woj_Pawelczyk) November 19, 2019

#FartGate Remix pic.twitter.com/EcXWy4Q4wp

— Carpe Donktum🔹 (@CarpeDonktum) November 19, 2019

Last one… I swear.

Greta reacts to #FartGate pic.twitter.com/tcea6g0Zo7

— Carpe Donktum🔹 (@CarpeDonktum) November 19, 2019

Hardball’s initial reaction was to join in.

Yo @hardball why did you delete this amazing response to #fartgate pic.twitter.com/q4ktHtfwHC

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 19, 2019

But then came the cover-up. Claim without evidence:

Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists – it was the #hardball mug scraping across the desk. Get yours today and let’s get back to the news! https://t.co/SG8Owm2IBw

— Hardball (@hardball) November 19, 2019

TOTAL EXONERATION! https://t.co/JAuTsnCjAC

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 19, 2019

But no one was buying it.

Sorry, @RepSwalwell has to prove he is innocent of the fart, he is not exonerated until he does.

That's how this works now#FartGate https://t.co/FnUhML3YTf

— Carpe Donktum🔹 (@CarpeDonktum) November 19, 2019

So, who is the true culprit behind #Fartgate: Eric Swalwell or a poor, innocent Hardball mug? Or is this all a ruse to protect the real perpetrator: Chris Matthews himself? https://t.co/Rs9qnzXA65

— New York Magazine (@NYMag) November 19, 2019

The Hardball mug isn't responsible for #fartgate and Epstein didn't kill himself https://t.co/XJypo5URJb

— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) November 19, 2019

It even made it overseas:

A Democratic Congressman's appearance on a US breakfast show yesterday has caused a bit of a stink across the pond #FartGate@piersmorgan recreates the moment!

Sound on for this one!! 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/W4zo3WB3ZC

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 19, 2019

HT: Twitchy