Conan O’Brien recently shared a message for comedians who, according to him, are missing the main point of comedy: making people laugh, and instead, focusing on criticizing President Donald Trump. He emphasized that he has no issue with comedians calling Trump out, but he doesn’t agree with their approach. While O’Brien understands they are trying to channel their anger, he believes it can be done more effectively through their craft.
Conan O’Brien gives warning to comics
During an interview with the Oxford Union, O’Brien shared his thoughts about comics that use their art to criticize the Trump administration. Although he has no problem with them calling Trump out, he believes that comics should use their art effectively to channel their anger, rather than just cursing Trump all the time.
He said, “Some comics go the route of, ‘I’m gonna just say F Trump all the time,’ or that’s their comedy. But now I think, you’re being co-opted. Because’ you’re so angry you’ve been lulled. It’s like a siren leading you into the rocks.”
He thinks that some comics are missing the point of their art, which is to make their audience laugh, and have just restricted themselves to channeling anger on stage. O’Brien added, “You’ve been lulled into just saying ‘F Trump. F Trump. F Trump. Screw this guy,’ and I think you’ve now put down your best weapon, which is being funny, and you’ve exchanged it for anger.”
Speaking about what he believes is the most effective solution to use the craft for raising voices, he explained, “You just have to find a way to channel that anger, because good art will always be a perfect weapon against power, but if you’re just screaming and you’re just angry, you’ve lost your best tool in the toolbox.”
In a 2023 interview, O’Brien discussed why making jokes about Trump is difficult in a conversation with On With Kara Swisher. He said, “You can’t parody something that already has that crazy, irregular shape. It’s not possible. So I always thought that when Trump came along, what a lot of people have to revert to is: ‘Doesn’t he suck? I hate that guy. He’s an asshole.’ And those aren’t jokes (via Variety).”
