Viral Clip of Energy Secretary on Fox News — ‘Is He Solar Powered?’ Sparks a Flood of Jokes
A brief televised moment on of Energy Secretary Chris Wright basking in sunlight with his eyes closed has exploded online, generating memes, edits and a string of reactions. The clip circulated as the president delivered a speech in Corpus Christi, Texas, focused on “American Energy dominance, ” making the on-air oddity an immediate cultural aside to a policy event.
shot shows Chris Wright facing the sun
The split-screen live shot began with anchor John Roberts introducing the secretary — at which point Wright was seen with his eyes closed, head tilted upward toward the sun. Another on-air anchor, Sandra Smith, appeared amused and cracked a smile, seemingly glancing off-camera at production. A voice in the background then seemingly alerted Wright that he was on camera.
During the exchange, loud music could be heard coming from Wright’s side of the broadcast at the Corpus Christi location. The live feed reportedly ended abruptly when Wright did not respond to his name.
Clip posted online by user Acyn drew massive attention
A short video of the moment was posted online by user Acyn and garnered over 800, 000 views. The clip circulated as the president touted his administration’s energy policies and made pointed political attacks during the Corpus Christi appearance.
Context: the president’s Corpus Christi speech and Energy Secretary remarks
The president’s speech in Corpus Christi emphasized improved energy affordability and greater U. S. leverage abroad. He touted expanded domestic drilling, the rollback of clean-energy programs and recent actions in Venezuela, and referenced oil and gas production as key components of national security and economic stability.
On the live shot, Wright reiterated parts of the administration’s economic message, saying in part that the president “he's doing everything possible to lower prices, ” and added the phrase “higher wages. ” It is immediately unknown if the administration has any future energy speeches planned around the country.
Wide range of reactions, edits and jokes online
Responses to the clip ranged from playful edits to mocking commentary. One edited clip showed Wright captured by a beam of light and disappearing, accompanied by the caption asking, “Where did he go?” Another observer asked, “Is he solar powered?” while other commentators wondered if he thought he was being raptured.
Comments also included characterizations such as “The Secretary of No Energy, ” and quips referencing seasonal mood. A Department of Energy response to a White House Deputy Chief of Staff post framed the moment lightheartedly with the line, “Exactly—God forbid @SecretaryWright catch a vibe!” The Deputy Chief of Staff’s original post said, “My boy is powering up so what. ”
Who weighed in and how the moment spread
The clip prompted a wave of social-media posts from journalists, political operatives and elected officials, producing edited versions and snarky captions that expanded the moment into an instant meme. Journalists and political commentators asked rhetorically what Wright was doing during the live transmission; other commentators produced playful edits and captions that amplified the image across timelines.
Byline note and production context
The account of the broadcast moment included contributions from a senior editor based in Los Angeles who also teaches journalism courses and has taught at a university in Southern California; she is a Southern California native and a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Details about the live transmission — the split screen, the anchors’ reactions, the background music and the abrupt end of the feed — form the core of the viral moment’s coverage.
While the clip has been widely circulated and reshared, further details about the circumstances surrounding Wright’s posture on camera and whether additional public appearances are scheduled remain unclear in the provided context.
