Comedian John Oliver ripped into Donald Trump on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, blasting the president’s economic policy meltdown and comparing his behavior to “a monkey with a gun.”
“Total chaos” is how Oliver described Trump’s latest mess — a wild week where the president bragged about tariffs, spooked the markets, and then suddenly paused them after backlash.
It all started with what Oliver called “the single dumbest chart in human history.” Trump then tried to calm investors by saying they shouldn’t be “Panicans,” a made-up word he defined as “a new political party for the weak and stupid.”
“I’d argue the weak and stupid demo is, if anything, way overrepresented in government right now,” the British satirist said, showing photos of Republicans like Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump’s claim that other world leaders were “kissing my a** to make a deal” got one of the night’s biggest laughs — and warnings. Oliver said, “I’m sure some have been pretty nice to him, the same way you try to be nice if you suddenly found yourself in the same room as a monkey with a gun.”
From slapping massive tariffs on global trade partners to walking it back days later, Trump’s actions left everyone confused. CNBC’s Jim Cramer was shown struggling to explain why Trump dropped a 90% tariff on the tiny African country of Lesotho. Oliver’s take: “Incredibly stupid.”
As for Trump’s mindset? “The best way to ensure Trump does something is to tell him not to do it,” Oliver said. “He’s like a toddler, both because his brain is unable to grasp negations and also because he has a short torso, huge head, always looks like he’s about to fall over and won’t let anyone brush his hair.”
Then Oliver turned the heat on JD Vance, who’s now vice president — and possibly next in line for the top job. Vance recently referred to Chinese citizens as “peasants.”
Oliver didn’t hold back: “Incredibly insulting, especially coming from the man who is next in line to run the country if anything were to happen to Elon Musk.”
He continued: “In a way, I guess it’s reassuring to know that despite our differences, the American and Chinese people can come together to agree that it is fun to dunk on this cursed Cabbage Patch b****.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent didn’t escape the roast either. Oliver compared him to a “Whoville tax accountant” with no charisma.
Wrapping up, Oliver pointed to Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who gloated on social media after Trump’s policy reversal. Oliver’s reminder? “We dodged a bullet, but the monkey still has a gun!”
Watch the full John Oliver monologue from HBO below:
