Trevor Noah on Trump's Presidential Moment
Trevor Noah Explains Why Trump's "Presidential" Moment Is So Scary
.@Trevornoah on Trump's speech: "What's scary is that it is that easy to become presidential" #TheMessyTruthhttps://t.co/rkgNAcQnT4
— CNN (@CNN) March 9, 2017
When President Donald Trump honored Carryn Owens, the widow of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, during his Congressional address on Feb. 28, many of his critics (including Van Jones) described the moment as "presidential." Whether or not you agree with the description, Trevor Noah's analysis of the speech is worth hearing.
In a town-hall-style interview with Jones, Noah explains how viewing the president as a stand-up comedian allows him to scrutinize Trump more effectively. "When I see Trump, I see a stand-up comedian," Noah said. "He connects with audiences in the same way. He knows how to make you laugh in a moment when you didn't think you would."
But, as Noah goes on to clarify, that ability is quite dangerous. "During that moment, with Ryan's wife, Trump even made a joke," Noah said. "People laughed, people connected, and I was like: 'That is scary, man, that's good.'"
Noah continues by expressing why it's concerning Trump is able to manipulate audiences so skillfully. "What's not scary is that he became presidential in that moment," Noah concluded. "I think what's scary is that it is that easy to become presidential."
Trump, regardless of his intent, is capable of swaying even his harshest detractors in a few sentences and that is ultimately more troubling than the moment itself — at least, according to Noah.
