Al Franken unloads rare comedic broadside against Donald Trump

Al Franken hits Donald Trump with comedy

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

published 26 July 2016

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) took the stage at Monday's Democratic National Convention to loud applause, then started with some jokes about Donald Trump. "I'm Al Franken," he began, "Minnesotan, senator, and world-renowned expert on right-wing megalomaniacs." Franken, who was a comedian and author of books making fun of Fox News and conservatives before being giving up comedy when elected to the U.S. Senate, said that his list of subjects includes Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and now Trump. "I got my doctorate in Megalomanic Studies from Trump University."

Franken continued in that vein for a while, saying that while, "sure he's scammed a bunch of people," Trump's defunct real estate course business is ranked No. 2, behind Bernie Madoff University, thanks to instructors like Scott Baio, Mike Tyson, "and, of course, a life-size cutout of Mr. Trump himself," who teaches Bankruptcy 101. "Instead of voting for something who's never done anything for anyone else," Franken said, vote for Hillary Clinton, someone who he said has spent her life working for other people.

In his 25 years of knowing Clinton, "I've never met anyone smarter, tougher, or more ready to lead us forward," Franken said. "I am proud to call Hillary Clinton my friend, and I will be proud to call her Madame President." He didn't just call for Democrats to support Clinton, but to work for her, noting that he won his first Senate race by just 312 votes. "This week is about passion, but Friday morning, it's all work, hard work," he added, ending with exhortations to ignore your children and job. "An 8-year-old child can use a microwave oven," he deadpanned. You can watch his entire, very rare political comedy act below. Peter Weber

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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.