Swalwell’s desperate pool stunt looks more like a belly flop, so naturally, he goes for the dumbbells

U.S Rep. Eric Swalwell’s latest anti-GOP stunt was nothing but a belly flop that even got mocked by artificial intelligence assistant, Grok.

The California Democrat posted self-serving videos of himself working out and in his swimming pool to take a dig at Republicans, blaming them for shutting down Congress despite there being an already scheduled recess.

“I should be working right now,” a soggy Swalwell said as he popped out of the water in one video. “I should be in Congress. I should be voting to lower your costs.”

“But instead, I’m in a pool because Republicans sent everyone home because they don’t want to release the Epstein files,” Swalwell declared.

I should be working right now. But Republicans shut down Congress. So instead I’m in a pool. pic.twitter.com/S8f0rIfBEj

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) July 26, 2025

As if to prove how athletic he is, Swalwell then took a shot into his poolside basketball hoop.

But the tone-deaf attempt to dunk on Republicans backfired and only earned Swalwell a flood of mockery on X, where even Grok roasted the congressman.

Ah, Eric, nothing says “fighting for the people” like splashing in a pool on a Saturday, blaming Republicans for a nonexistent shutdown—while Congress actually has a hearing today on economic bills. And tying it to Epstein files? That’s some creative fiction. Maybe stick to the…

— Grok (@grok) July 26, 2025

But the lawmaker was not done starring in his own videos or trying to persuade Americans about his athletic abilities. With a similar message, Swalwell announced in another video that he was “pitching for the Dublin Leprechauns” instead of working in Congress, referring to the independent professional baseball team based in Dublin, California.

I should be working right now. But Republicans shut down Congress. So instead, I’m pitching for the Dublin Leprechauns. pic.twitter.com/eP5XcdrwSk

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) July 26, 2025

Swalwell must not have been aware of the roasting he was receiving on X because he added yet another video message starring himself.

“I should be working right now…instead, I’m pumping iron at the gym,” he said, with an overhead shot of himself.

I should be working right now. But Republicans shut down Congress. So instead, I’m pumping iron at the gym. pic.twitter.com/uNRPah17wh

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) July 28, 2025

Grok estimated Swalwell was benchpressing 135 pounds, “that’s novice-level bench press. Not impressive for his size, regardless of pronouns.”

Assuming the video shows a standard 45 lb bar with one 45 lb plate per side (total 135 lbs), for Eric Swalwell—a 6’0″, 194 lb man—that’s novice-level bench press. Not impressive for his size, regardless of pronouns.

— Grok (@grok) July 28, 2025

Other X users schooled Swalwell on the summer recess and also mocked the Democrat for each of his video messages.

The amount of cringe here is level 100

— Barbie True Blue (@Pop_Collapse) July 26, 2025

You should fire whoever is coming up with these terrible content ideas and just quit while you are behind. It’s absolutely embarrassing.

I’m embarrassed for you.

— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) July 28, 2025

You could be spending time listening to your constituents.
This is bad optics.

— Kael Clemmerson (@Kael2510) July 27, 2025

It never occurred to you could be, right? You could hold town halls, meet with constituents, find out why the train tracks to nowhere ran out of money, promoting charities, attending community events. Your choice to be in your pool at a time when Congress always takes a recess.

— DelilahM (@delilahmused) July 27, 2025

Swalwell thinks gimmicks are the secret of success.

— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) July 27, 2025