Trevor Noah, Jimmy Fallon, and Conan O'Brien ponder if the Ukraine scandal might actually bring down Trump
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry of President Trump on Tuesday, and The Late Show outlined the key allegations in a fake recording of Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At The Daily Show, Trevor Noah explained the allegation and called it "devastating: It's abuse of power, it's extortion, and maybe worst of all, it's asking a foreign country to meddle in America's election — which is the one thing that if you were Donald Trump, you should stay away from."
Trump denies any wrongdoing, "but the one silver lining of any Trump scandal is that if you just wait long enough, eventually he'll just spill the beans himself," Noah said, playing some clips. "We all heard that, right? Trump just said there was no pressure except for the pressure to get dirt on Biden — that's the only pressure we're talking about! That's not a defense, that's an admission!"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng was skeptical "this is the scandal" that will bring down Trump. When Trump "paid hush money to a porn star," he noted, "Trump got away with it, his lawyer went to jail, and now I can't watch porn without thinking of campaign finance law." He listed some others. "Do you know how much effort it takes to follow all these scandals?" Chieng asked Noah. "And for what? Every one of these scandals was going to be 'the one,' and it never is. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if this scandal ends with Ukraine going to jail and Trump becoming president for life."
Still, Jimmy Fallon joked at The Tonight Show, "you can tell Trump's desperate to make this go away because tonight he was like, 'Hey, who wants to see my tax returns?'" Seriously, "the whole thing is moving very fast," he said. "We found out about the Ukraine scandal last week, the impeachment inquiry is starting this week, which means Trump will be on Dancing With the Stars next week."
Conan O'Brien had a similar thought. "We don't know who the whistleblower is yet, but we do know they'll end up on Dancing With the Stars," he said on Conan. When Trump learned about the impeachment inquiry, he "was furious and said, 'This is nuts — I've done way worse things,'" O'Brien said, while over at MSNBC, Rachel Maddow's head exploded. Watch below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The future of X
Talking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
By The Week UK Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published