Samantha Bee explains how Brexit won't doom America to President Donald Trump

Samantha Bee talks Brexit and Donald Trump
(Image credit: Full Frontal)

"While the Brits were waking up in the ruins of their nation and saying, 'Oh god, what have we done?'" said Samantha Bee on Monday's Full Frontal, "a lot of Americans were looking over and saying 'Oh god, what are we about to do?'" The warning rant from Van Jones about how Brexit equals President Trump was a little over-the-top for Bee, but she saw where he was coming from: "The Brexit vote was driven by angry, less-educated white voters who feel screwed by globalization and the establishment, and have been fed a chip buddy of xenophobia slathered in slogan sauce."

Bee told America to calm down. "America shouldn't be complacent, but you also shouldn't panic and move to Canada — Canada asked me to say that," she said. "America is not Britain. Being not Britain is pretty much central to the whole America brand." First, America has been doing immigration for centuries, while Britain, until the late 20th century, hadn't really dealt with a big influx of foreigners since 1066. Second, Britain is much whiter and more homogenous than the U.S. "And you know the other thing America has that Britain lacks?" she asked. "A butt-ton of evangelical Christians. Thank God! Yeah, you heard that right."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.