John Oliver recently shared his thoughts on the clash between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, describing the entire spectacle as “awful.”
During the televised meeting, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for not wanting to make a peace deal with Russia on his terms, calling him “disrespectful.” Vice President JD Vance also chimed in, urging Zelenskyy to thank Trump for his efforts and questioning whether he had expressed gratitude even once during the meeting.
Despite the conversation taking a negative turn, Trump, perhaps drawing on his reality TV background, remarked, “This is gonna be great television, I will say that.” However, Oliver was quick to point out that the quality of television viewing is subjective.
In a new episode of “Last Week Tonight,” Oliver remarked, “Is watching the president criticize a weaker ally for not wanting to be conquered while his vice president attempts to excessively praise him good television?” He expressed his view that it was more akin to unbearable television that makes you want to hit your TV with a hammer until the pain subsides.
Oliver went on to criticize the behavior displayed during the meeting, highlighting the discomfort of the Ukrainian ambassador and Marco Rubio’s awkward body language. He emphasized that Zelenskyy had already expressed gratitude to the American people and government numerous times, noting that he is a president in the midst of a war and should not be pressured to constantly say thank you like a child opening gifts.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media to reiterate his appreciation for the support from the United States. In response to Trump’s comments urging Zelenskyy to focus on making peace rather than criticizing Putin, Oliver sarcastically questioned why Zelenskyy couldn’t find anything positive to say about Putin, despite the harm inflicted on Ukraine by the Russian leader.
Oliver humorously suggested finding positive attributes about Putin, such as his puffy cheeks resembling Hawaiian rolls or the fact that a horse featured in a photo with Putin didn’t commit suicide after the shoot. He emphasized the importance of being kind and finding something nice to say, even about controversial figures.
“Last Week Tonight” can be streamed on Max for those interested in Oliver’s comedic take on current events and political issues.
