Conan O'Brien has no issue with comedians criticizing President Donald Trump, just the way they are doing it.
During an interview at Oxford Union uploaded Tuesday, Jan. 6, the former talk show host cautioned his fellow comics who lose their humor while condemning the Trump administration. The union is a student debating society at the University of Oxford in England. Since 1823, it has welcomed comedians, celebrities, politicians and world leaders to publicly engage in debate and public speaking.
"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," O'Brien said. "It’s like a siren leading you into the rocks."
The Emmy-winner said he's had conversations with comedians who said the world is too serious for purely comedic sets, which he argued means they should prioritize making audiences laugh.
"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," he said. "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."
