The Daily Show host on Trump's Assertion of Being Unaware About His Own MRI: 'It's Not Physically Possible'.
Comedy show hosts this week directed their focus on ex-President Donald Trump, lambasting his employment of a derogatory term and portrayed as feeble efforts to address growing questions about his mental fitness.
The Daily Show's Pointed Commentary
Beginning his monologue, Jon Stewart took aim at a controversial post in which Trump referred to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz using a highly offensive ableist term. "On Thanksgiving?!" Stewart exclaimed. "Are you confusing that with your own personal grievance airing day?"
When questioned by reporters if he regretted the remark, Trump reportedly intensified his attack, stating there was "a genuine problem" with the governor.
"Something wrong with him? With him?" Stewart responded. "You were sitting with your family at Thanksgiving, stomach full of turkey and pie, surrounded by the love of your extended crime family, but your initial instinct was to Truth a slur at Tim Walz? And thereâs something wrong with him?"
The comedian then turned to Trump's bizarre explanation of a recently disclosed MRI. In an attempt to dismiss concerns, Trump claimed he had "no idea" what part of his body was even scanned, suggesting it "wasnât the brain" because he "took a cognitive test."
"Thatâs not physically possible," Stewart shot back. "Being completely unaware, itâs not possible. What could you possibly say to the doctor? âWait, stop, donât tell me. I want to find out at my scan unveiling celebration.â"
He continued, "Good grief, man, were you not the least bit interested? When they placed you in a tube for 30 to 45 minutes, you didnât want to know what they might be doing? Or did you just think to yourself, âWhat a loud tanning bedâ?"
Stewart further ridiculed Trump's boast of a "perfect score" on the scan. "Thatâs how they score the MRIs," he joked. "It's either a big stamp, âPerfect,â or you get in red ink, âWe need to talk.â"
Stephen Colbert's Witty Observations
On his own program, Stephen Colbert pointed out increasing frustration among some one-time allies. "Certain supporters are starting to notice that Trump treats them like livestock," he said, citing anger about building a gilded event space over tackling economic issues.
"Elsewhere, Trump celebrated Thanksgiving in his traditional way â with racism," Colbert noted, referring to an inflammatory post from the weekend. "Amidst all of that nonsense," he summarized, the president employed the ableist slur against Governor Walz.
After Walz challenged him to "Release the MRI results," Trump promised release them, despite his claimed ignorance of what was scanned.
"Well, here's an idea: maybe the part thatâs malfunctioning is the part thatâs supposed to know," Colbert suggested.
He then poked fun at the follow-up White House justificationâa doctor's letter stating the MRI was for routine evaluation. "OK, fair enough," Colbert said. "Men in his age group also benefit from retiring, so ⌠can we write that prescription next?"
Jimmy Kimmel's Direct Criticism
Jimmy Kimmel likewise blasted Trump's choice of words. "See, he can be presidential when he wants to be!" he joked. "I wonder why he didnât get that Nobel peace prize. It defies all logic."
Regarding Trump's subsequent statement that he thinks "thereâs something wrong" with Walz, Kimmel was direct: "yet another profound insight from the president of the middle school."
Kimmel also addressed Trump's insistence of unprecedented approval ratings. "This indicates itâs not just books he canât read," Kimmel remarked, pointing to polling showing high negative ratings. "You can find gas station bathrooms on Yelp with higher approval ratings than Donald Trump right now."
The host finished by criticizing Trump's promise to grant clemency to a imprisoned former Honduran president. "Now some have pointed out the unbelievable hypocrisy of Trump tough on drugs elsewhere, while at the same time freeing a man who shipped a massive quantity of cocaine to this country," said Kimmel. "Such individuals are just haters and losers, you know? Lighten up!"
"During his campaign, Trump made it very clear: his key goals were a) granting clemency to cartel leaders and b) building a place to ballroom dance," he added. "Promises made, promises kept."