Extract from The Guardian
Late-night hosts discussed Trump’s ‘strongman propaganda’ as he left the hospital while still infected with a potentially deadly virus.
Seth Meyers: ‘It’s genuinely hard to recall a moment in American life that felt more unhinged.’
Last modified on Thu 8 Oct 2020 02.50 AEDT
Late-night hosts covered the spectacle of Donald Trump leaving Walter Reed hospital and returning to the White House to spread misinformation.
Seth Meyers
On Late Night, Seth Meyers referred to it as a “deranged and deeply reckless” display as Trump returned to potentially infect those around him. He likened him to the “Outbreak monkey”.
He explained in detail: “It’s genuinely hard to recall a moment in American life that felt more unhinged than the grotesque spectacle we all witnessed last night: an infectious president on powerful steroids and experimental drugs walking around with a potentially deadly virus making a big show of leaving the hospital, flying back to the White House at sunset just before Joe Biden’s town hall, taking his mask off in front of the cameras and visibly gasping for air like he’s been guarding LeBron James all night.”
The footage of Trump on the White House balcony showed him visibly gasping for air. Meyers said he “looks like he just got back from a class at No Soulcycle” and after taking off his mask, “the only thing missing was Scooby at the gang”.
He called it an “insane spectacle” and said his behaviour “sends an incredibly dangerous message to his supporters”.
Rudy Giuliani also went on Fox News to tell people not to trust scientists but to trust doctors instead. “Do you think you know more about scientists because you were created by them?” Meyers asked.
Trump’s later decision to pause financial relief talks until after the election was also a contentious issue. “Her’s proven once again, he has no regard for any life other than his own,” Meyers said.
Stephen Colbert
On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert said that any hope Trump might have gained “a shred of humility” after his diagnosis was immediately dashed.
“He never changes, he’s a Teflon trout,” Colbert said. “He just swims through all the normal experiences of life and not a barnacle of learning sticks to him. He’s the least wise person in history.”
He called his filmed return to the White House “pure strongman propaganda” that had the president dramatically walking up stairs. “Only Donald Trump would thinking climbing stairs is a feat of strength,” he joked.
But “the stupidest thing” was that he reportedly insisted they did a reshoot of his arrival. “You don’t get to do reshoots of actually important events!” Colbert said before calling it “a trailer for the upcoming movie Triumph of the Ill”.
He said Trump wants to “make America a death cult again” while criticising “the White House’s prevention strategy: they don’t have one”.
One of the side-effects of Trump’s infection is “not an enlarged heart” after he decided to halts talks on relief. “Come on Mr President, we’ve seen your taxes. You know what it’s like to be broke,” he joked.
Trevor Noah
On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah said the situation posed “a real dilemma for president Trump”.
He continued: “Sick man leaves hospital to continue to get round-the-clock medical attention at home is not exactly a flattering story but sick man kicks virus’s ass and can never get sick again, now that’s a good story.”
He also expressed shock over Trump’s dramatic return. “This wasn’t a photo op, it was a biological attack on the White House,” he said, before adding: “This is Trump putting his own staff at risk.”
Many of Trump’s people, including Fox News pundits claimed that him getting the virus was a good thing. “There’s nothing noble about getting corona because you refused to be safe but if they’re claiming that Trump has gained valuable experience from being personally infected with the coronavirus well what exactly is it that Trump has learned?” Noah asked.
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