The Daily Show's Trevor Noah tells CNN he's genuinely amazed at Trump's comedian instincts
Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show, was the guest on Van Jones' new CNN show Wednesday night, and they discussed President Trump, specifically the moment in his address to Congress where he pointed to the wife of slain Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens — the moment Jones said Trump "became president of the United States."
Noah said that during Trump's speech and earlier moments in the presidential campaign, like the debates, he saw Trump through a very specific filter. "When I see Trump, I see a stand-up comedian," he said. "He connects with audiences in the same way. He makes you laugh in a moment where you didn't think you would, he knows how to broach a topic in a way that no one normally can." During his tribute to Owens and his widow, Carryn Owens, "Trump even told a joke, and people laughed, people connected," Noah said. "And I was like, that is scary, man, that's good."
When Jones called that part of the speech the moment Trump became president, "my first instinct was, 'Come again, Van?'" Noah said. But "the honest truth is he became presidential in that moment. What's not scary is that he became presidential in that moment. I think what's scary is that it is that easy to become presidential." Watch. 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.
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