CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • World
  • Innovation
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Fever Dreams
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      FOOD & BEVERAGE
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Beauty
        • Home
        • Pets
        • Kitchen
        • Fitness
        • I'm Looking For
        BEST PICKS
        • Best VPNs
        • Best Gaming PCs
        • Best Air Fryers
        COUPONS
        • Vistaprint Coupons
        • Ulta Coupons
        • Office Depot Coupons
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • Walmart Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE
        T.V.

        John Oliver Rails Against Trump Over ‘Shocking’ El Paso Hospital Visit

        UNBELIEVABLE

        The “Last Week Tonight” host couldn’t believe how the president conducted himself during a visit to the El Paso hospital that’s treating a number of mass-shooting victims.

        Marlow Stern

        Senior Entertainment Editor

        Updated Aug. 12, 2019 6:48AM ET / Published Aug. 12, 2019 12:12AM ET 

        HBO

        On Sunday evening, John Oliver dedicated the opening portion of his Emmy-winning program Last Week Tonight to President Trump’s all-too-predictable decision to make the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, all about himself.

        The HBO host threw to a clip of Trump taken inside a hospital in El Paso, which Trump ostensibly visited to greet victims of the shooting—but was captured on video bragging about his crowd size at a previous rally in El Paso.

        “I was here three months ago, we made a speech, and we had a stage—what was the name of the arena?” said Trump in the clip. “That was some crowd, and we had twice the number outside. And then you had this crazy Beto. Beto had like 400 people in a parking lot.”

        Yeesh. “Look, we all know how much Trump struggles to do the bare minimum of being a president, but it’s still genuinely shocking just how much he struggles to do the bare minimum of being a fucking person,” exclaimed Oliver. “Just consider the thought process that happened there: He visited a hospital filled with victims of a mass shooting and thought to himself, remember that other time when I was the center of attention and it was better? And then he thought, do you think anyone else remembers that? Then he thought, I should remind them, right?! Then he thought, great idea! Then he thought, thank you! Then he thought, Ivanka! Then he thought, no time! And then he said it, and he was happy with how it sounded.”

        But Oliver told his audience to keep their eye on the ball: “Trump’s pathological lack of empathy should not distract us from the most important question right now, which is what action—if any—will be taken on guns,” offered Oliver, stating that “pressure is building” for just that.  

          He then aimed his ire at the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has been in a state of financial turmoil for the past year—or as Oliver put it, is “currently in the midst of an eternal shitshow.”

          “It all started last year, when federal investigators started looking into whether a Russian agent [Maria Butina] had used the NRA to infiltrate Republican policies—which is already comfortably bad enough. But then, the New York State AG started looking into their tax-exempt status because the NRA is technically a nonprofit, and it turns out there’s been some very suspicious expenditures,” the comedian explained.

          Yes, NRA chief Wayne LaPierre is accused of spending member dues on outlandish personal expenses, including nearly $300,000 on designer clothes, luxury travel, etc. He also reportedly wanted the organization to buy him a $6 million mansion in Texas (with nine bathrooms!) after the Parkland shooting out of safety fears.

          “Wow. So, putting aside the head of the NRA claiming he needs a mansion because other people got shot, the housing question is ludicrous,” said Oliver.

            Oliver then took it upon himself to dance on the grave of NRATV, the gun-lobbying group’s strange propaganda-TV channel that imploded earlier this year.

            “Obviously, the death of NRATV is a tragedy—thoughts and prayers to all those affected—but the bottom line is, for the first time in a while, things are not actually looking great for the NRA, so does this mean that gun control could finally happen? Mitch McConnell has hinted at action on background checks, but he’s also refused to recall the Senate and might be hoping that by the time it’s back in session, the pressure will be off,” said Oliver.

            “Meanwhile, the president has said that he’s willing to stand up to the NRA but he’s also 1) a liar; and 2) likely to identify with an organization that has spent itself into colossal debt, has troubling ties to Russia, and is associated with shitty TV programs and very bad taste,” he added.

            “I guess what I’m really saying here is, a weakened NRA is nice—sure—but the only way that things are really going to change is if lawmakers continue to feel the pressure to… do something.”

            Marlow Stern

            Senior Entertainment Editor

            @marlownycmarlow.stern@thedailybeast.com

            Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.

            READ THIS LIST

            DAILY BEAST
            • Cheat Sheet
            • Politics
            • Crime
            • Entertainment
            • Media
            • World
            • Innovation
            • U.S. News
            • Scouted
            • Travel
            • Subscription
            • Crossword
            • Newsletters
            • Podcasts
            • About
            • Contact
            • Tips
            • Jobs
            • Advertise
            • Help
            • Privacy
            • Code of Ethics & Standards
            • Diversity
            • Terms & Conditions
            • Copyright & Trademark
            • Sitemap
            • Best Picks
            • Coupons:
            • Coupons:
            • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
            • HP Coupon Codes
            • Chewy Promo Codes
            • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
            • NordVPN Coupons
            • JCPenny Coupons
            • Nordstrom Coupons
            • Samsung Promo Coupons
            • Home Depot Coupons
            • Hotwire Promo Codes
            • eBay Coupons
            • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
            © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC