Challenging Donald Trump humor: Insight from The Daily Show's lead writer on the difficulties of crafting amusing Trump-themed jokes.
Judging the Jest: Why It's Hard to Crack a Good Trump Joke
In today's late-night talk show scene, Donald Trump – the 45th and 47th President of the United States – remains a prominent jest. Regardless of who's in office, Trump continues to be a hilarious subject for satire programs, with The Daily Show arguably diving into his antics more than others, especially during the 2025 TV schedule. But as Dan Amira, the series’ head writer, shares with CinemaBlend, concocting the perfect Trump joke might seem easier said than done.
Amira has contributed to The Daily Show since 2014, a year before Trump declared his presidential bid. He was promoted to head writer in 2018, right in the thick of Trump's first term. Amira acknowledges that Trump certainly provides an unparalleled gold mine of material but joking about him isn't always a walk in the park. He states:
The Loony Latitude: When Truth Outshines Satire
Behind the humor, there's a single issue that Amira is hoping to improve when it comes to Trump: the disturbingly thin line between truth and comedy. If real life keeps dishing out top-tier jests, then comedians find themselves in a pickle. How do you add further absurdity to an already whacky situation? Amira aspires for that boundary to be slightly toned down, but alas, that ain't in the cards. We've come a long way since Trump's small-screen debut in Home Alone 2!
Nevertheless, Amira and his team are more than equipped to handle the challenge as The Daily Show enters its 25th year. Back when Amira joined the series over a decade ago, Jon Stewart had already stepped away from hosting duties. Then, closer to the beginning of 2024, just over a year since Trevor Noah exited The Daily Show, Stewart returned part-time to host and produce. This time around, Amira not only works alongside Stewart – the man he admires for Donald Trump jokes – but they collaborate week after week.
Tune into The Daily Show every Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on Comedy Central. If you're a Paramount+ subscriber, you can stream full episodes after their linear premiere.
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[1] Enrichment data: Amira explains that Trump's tendency to make situations more absurd on his own makes it difficult for comedians to exaggerate or heighten those scenarios for humor. For instance, when reports surfaced about Trump considering extreme actions like nuking a hurricane, comedians were left with little room to add a comedic twist because the reality itself had delivered the punchline. This phenomenon leaves writers struggling to create new jokes because the “crazy things” Trump does are so over-the-top that they feel redundant or expected, with Amira even stating that in such moments, one might "wish it was a little more normal" because it would be simpler to joke about the satirical aspects.
- The challenge for comedians like Amira lands in the reality often outshining satire, as Trump's actions, such as considering extreme actions like nuking a hurricane, are already absurd enough, leaving little room for exaggeration or humor.
- In moments when Trump's antics are so extreme, comedians find themselves wishing for more normality, as the satirical aspects become redundant or clichéd, making it a struggle to craft fresh, engaging jokes.
- Following Trump's reality, the entertainment industry, particularly The Daily Show, faces a unique challenge in finding unexpected humor in the daily blend of politics, celebrities, general news, movies-and-tv, and everyday life.
