Late night hosts deconstruct Trump's coronavirus 'buck-passing,' doubt its efficacy
![Late night hosts on Trump's blame game](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LAKK6tYQC8jdWoWNHhGd7K-415-80.jpg)
President Trump clearly "needs someone to blame for how poorly he responded to the coronavirus," so "he's defunding the World Health Organization during a global pandemic!" Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. "Brilliant! It's like when your house is engulfed in flames, first thing you do, burn down the fire department." Still, "I don't think this buck-passing is going to work," he said. Without a White House full of experts and intelligence, his Late Show staff knew enough to make contingency plans on Feb. 28, "and we're just a TV show! We're not supposed to be more prepared than the president of the United States!"
Yes, Trump is obviously "scrambling to find somebody to blame for why his administration took so long to act," but "even if the World Health Organization acted perfectly, I don't know what Trump would have done differently," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. "Because his White House is filled with a bunch of idiots. And I know that's harsh, but I only say that because they are," though "sometimes I think Trump tells Kellyanne Conway to say dumb things on purpose just so that he looks smart in comparison."
"Stopping funding to an organization that handles pandemics in the middle of a pandemic is like slashing your own tires because you're mad you woke up late for work," Jimmy Kimmel said. "So far he's blamed this on Obama, the governors, the media, the WHO — has he blamed it on the Mexicans yet?" Just wait.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
But Trump "delaying the delivery of relief checks so that they could put your name on them might be the Trumpiest thing Trump has ever done," Kimmel said. "He didn't even put his name on the check he sent Stormy Daniels. These dollars are tax dollars we paid! As far as I know, he doesn't even pay taxes." Kimmel played some angry highlights from Trump's daily beat-the-press briefings.
So did Late Night's Seth Meyers, but he spread the blame: "That's the guy news networks have decided to air unfiltered during a national emergency, the guy who can't even read his own script." By the way, he added, "it doesn't make it better when you give it a negative chyron, like CNN did on Monday with 'Angry Trump Turns Briefing into Propaganda Session.' You know what else turned that into a propaganda session? Pointing your camera at it. Before you showed up, it was just Crazy Lawn Man Does His Thing." Watch below. Peter Weber
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - September 7, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - football widows, meddling kids, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Smoking ban: the return of the nanny state?
Talking Point Starmer's plan to revive Sunak-era war on tobacco has struck an unsettling chord even with some non-smokers
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: September 7, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff 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
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published