503 Comments
User's avatar
Andy Borowitz's avatar

I think Hugo would agree he was no match.

Expand full comment
JeffJ's avatar

The escalator stunt was a bigger screw-up than realized; the Antifa prankster was supposed to make it go in REVERSE !!

Expand full comment
Leslie's avatar

If they let it go partway up then reversed would it have mercifully sucked him in?

Expand full comment
Steve Newman's avatar

Yeah, yeah sliced him & the wife up like linguine.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--or in Trump's case, fat-riddled slices of pork!

Expand full comment
Bill's avatar

Yes Trump is "well-marbled"

Expand full comment
Erik Staub's avatar

but all that marbling would be toxic because if all the hair, face and hand dyes

Expand full comment
Catherine Alvarez's avatar

Yikes 😲 Even an escalator doesn’t deserve that .😁

Expand full comment
Bob Graham's avatar

The elevator might have tried to suck him in, but he would have broken the elevator into little pieces like everything else he touches.

Expand full comment
Elisabeth Birker's avatar

😂😂. How do we support the prankster?

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Wasn’t a prankster in either case! It was Trump’s own staff on the elevator fiasco and White House people on the Teleprompter glitch. Typical incompetence coming out of that White House. So spread the word it wasn’t antifa or anti anything except anti-brains maybe.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Covfefe brains and zero brawn!

Expand full comment
John King's avatar

I think often of the comment by "Deep Throat", the FBI executive who was giving information during the Watergate investigations: "These guys really aren't very smart."

Expand full comment
Frau Katze's avatar

They were geniuses compared to Trump & Co.

Expand full comment
Oaktown's avatar

Inquiring minds want to know: Have the responsible DT staffers been fired, as Minister of Propaganda KKK Leavitt demanded?

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

I think I read that it was the Trump staff videographer who accidentally tripped the emergency stop on the escalator. Trump is such a maroon. Also, the White House tech people--apparently also hired for loyalty, not skill or experience--screwed up the teleprompter, treating us all to an off-the-cuff ramble straight from Trump's id.

Expand full comment
Deborah Reed's avatar

A maroon ! My husband used to say that andI haven’t heard it since he passed!! Thanks for the memories!!!

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

I must have been channeling Bugs. Warner Bros were my favorite cartoons on Saturdays mornings back in the day when kids could be carefree.

Expand full comment
Phil M.'s avatar

"Loyalty" hires, formerly known as "ass kissers", "brown nosers", etc, have to do what they do to compensate for lack of skills.

And therein lies their weakness, mental weakness.

Expand full comment
JeffJ's avatar

First you have to find Antifa headquarters. You might start looking in Valhalla…

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--and be electrified!

Expand full comment
MLK's avatar

Electrocuted? Or perhaps diced and sliced.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Hugo outdone by the Ego!

Expand full comment
Oaktown's avatar

He'd probably settle for being a role model.

Expand full comment
James R. Borchert's avatar

As a public service, someone with your level of insight and inanity needs to develop a Batshit Crazy Scale, as the number and variety of utterings to be graded are quickly spiraling out of control.

Expand full comment
J Cheng's avatar

Perhaps batshit is no longer applicable. We should create a new scale called trumpshit crazy.......

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

Sorry, but giving him credit for anything leaves me feeling nauseous - no matter how well deserved it may be. Just thinking about it makes me wanna shower. Ugh.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

You have a point, Nancy G. He feeds on attention - any attention. While I love the idea, he does not deserve the credit.

Better to have his name erased from everything everywhere. I'd love to see that.

Expand full comment
Mark Lip's avatar

Good point. tRump is a brand. Many things get rebranded all the time

For example, just think of the all hotels and golf courses that could be renamed.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

He doesn't own much of what bears his name, Mark Lip - her rents his name.

I remember during the first reign of terror a hotel in Japan removed his name. He flipped out and sued them. But, they won because they didn't ask for their money back, and it's their property to name however they wish. Also a hotel in downtown NYC took his name off their building and he sued them and lost. Those are the only one's I've heard of.

I hope his name is removed from everything. I can't even bring myself to use the verb "trump" (as in: Truth trumps lies) anymore.

Expand full comment
Helena Handbasket's avatar

The word "trump" is slang for "fart" in the U.K.

Expand full comment
Mark Lip's avatar

Pity the poor bridge players, what word can they use when bidding?

I too remember the removal of his name/brand. Thanks for the reminder and clarification.

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

That’d get my vote! 👍

Expand full comment
Judith Green's avatar

Fitting for him given his erasure of slavery and genocide against Native Americans everywhere in America.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

I'd not thought of that connection, Judith Green, but you are absolutely right. He wants to erase facts from history. He should be erased from everywhere.

Expand full comment
Elisabeth Birker's avatar

You’re right! No credit! NONE DESERVED!!!

Expand full comment
bitchybitchybitchy's avatar

Orange toupee emojis!

Expand full comment
Lucy Sage's avatar

Deranged Donald Ducks!

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

"The Crazy Orange Scale"?

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

< appreciative applause >

Expand full comment
LHS's avatar

The WaPo described his speech as "fiery" yesterday. WTAF? Pants on fire, maybe?

Expand full comment
MeInKC's avatar

Remember, WaPo was acquired by an oligarch. Bezos is out to control the narrative even more than drumpf.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

---while the WaPo staff are saving up those pee bottles......

Expand full comment
Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

🤮🤣 Zowie! Even the NY Times said it was freakish, if not out and out deranged.

Expand full comment
MLK's avatar

Yes, the NYT is not owned by an oligarch, so....

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--or a diaper? Was the bronzer skin layer singed?

Expand full comment
Nay's avatar

Fiery is an unusual synonym for bat shit crazy. The man not only wants to run the US…he is after the entire planet. Lord of the Earth.

Expand full comment
LHS's avatar

I read that as Lord of the Flies at first. 🤣

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

maybe they misspelled the word "fairy" . . . ethereal (lacking material substance) and mythical (existing only in his mind)

Expand full comment
Virginia McDaniel's avatar

Would this scale have an upper limit???

Expand full comment
Robot Bender's avatar

No. Never underestimate the possible level of batshit crazy.

Expand full comment
James R. Borchert's avatar

Buzz Lightyear: "To Infinity, and Beyond."

Expand full comment
Jeff Luth's avatar

The knobs would all calibrate to 11

Expand full comment
Jim R.'s avatar

Ludicrous Crazy?

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

Yes!!

Expand full comment
bitchybitchybitchy's avatar

It goes to eleven

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Yes, eleven to the hundredth power!

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

It's trump we're talking about here. Skies the limit, and best acknowledged with a make up level to denote its hugeness.

Expand full comment
David T Moran's avatar

Hugeness and better than ever, no one has done as bestest as dumpy did.

The crows were asazingly small, whops should not have put that one in there.

Crowd size was 200,000 maybe even 400,000. No one has ever been larger. Refering to his pant size.

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

🤣🤣🤣👍

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Yes, the Andromeda Galaxy!

Expand full comment
Jonathan Aborn's avatar

With apologies to Batshit.

Expand full comment
Jerr's avatar

At work, we had a poster of an "old time" electrical meter, it was registering "Zero"

Under the meter were a few words. "GIVE A SHIT METER".

The trainmasters didn't like our little poster.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Bet that meter was really sticky....

Expand full comment
John's avatar

There used to be a scale that went from 0 to Gary Busey; but I think you may be right.

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

<snort laugh>

Expand full comment
P J Johnston's avatar

Totally agree with you on this one James!

Expand full comment
Susie's avatar

Brilliant. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

oh, yes . . . and make sure there are many levels of sub-ratings because God knows we have so many to categorize

Expand full comment
David E. Roy  Ph.D.'s avatar

It would have to be logrhythmic, each point 10x the previous.

Expand full comment
Nay's avatar

There also needs to be an entire team to help you pull all the bat shit crazy stuff together because it is too much for one person.

Expand full comment
Frau Katze's avatar

Batshit crazy measured by the number of bats? I’d put this speech at the top of the scale, say 10 bats.

Expand full comment
Mark Anderson's avatar

The only thing missing was banging his shoe on the podium.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar
12hEdited

Mark Anderson - The only reason he didn't bang his shoe on the podium is because he cannot bend enough to reach his little feet. He probably can't even see his feet, so he's not sure that they're still there.

The escalator should get some sort of award for having more backbone than most of our current government.

Expand full comment
Nancy Morgan LeBar's avatar

I like that the escalator stopped just as he was getting on. Karma!

Expand full comment
Michael L Flynn's avatar

Obviously, the escalator became overloaded when his big, fat ass got on. An electric motor can only do so much.

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Especially if you recall his great moment before he was elected president the first time when he got on the escalator and descended as if from the heavens! Too bad it didn’t stop abruptly then and send him down headfirst.

Expand full comment
Nay's avatar

Down to hell

Expand full comment
bitchybitchybitchy's avatar

And the look on Melania's face...

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

Though (much as I find her repugnant) I must give her kudos for the way she recognized the issue and with great aplomb began climbing the escalators stairs without any fuss.

Expand full comment
Frances López's avatar

I'm sure she's used to coping with unexpected "inconveniences."

Expand full comment
Octavia Redwood's avatar

more payments to her account will smooth it all over

Expand full comment
Catherine Alvarez's avatar

“ I have my own mind “

Quote from Melania .

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

. . . and Swiss bank account

Expand full comment
Michael L Flynn's avatar

Do you mean her perma-scowl ?

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

she should be thankful she wasn't behind him!

Expand full comment
Rebe's avatar

Changing facial expressions is very hard for her to do, what with that vat of Botox she has injected into her face and all. But, she did manage to do it! Congratulations!

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

His camera guy stopped it, probably to get a photo

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

Give the escalator a Pulitzer Peace Prize

Expand full comment
Susan Stone's avatar

Didn't know Pulitzer awarded a peace prize. I thought they were all literary prizes, but then again, I'm sure that the escalator has more literary talent and experience than trump.

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

You’re right! give the escalator a Pulitzer and the Nobel!

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

trump misspeaks and confabulations are rubbing off. 😉

Expand full comment
Susan Stone's avatar

Thank you for a good laugh, Kathy!

Expand full comment
Jody Magee's avatar

The Nobel Peace Prize! That’s the one covets. Besides, the Pulitzer is usually awarded to one who can read and write.

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

Well, that stopped escalator created a story which Trump turned into a fiction that blew up in his face for the world to laugh at. A comedic story worthy of a Pulitzer? Me’thinks yes

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

🤣🤣🤣🤣 - Kathy. That would be perfect! If only!

Expand full comment
Sharon P's avatar

but not him

Expand full comment
Jean M Mazza's avatar

ROFLMAO.

Expand full comment
Annette's avatar

<giggle>

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Yes! And for putting up with just as much b.s. on the move!

Expand full comment
Patris's avatar

And I thought Khrushchev was nuts.

Expand full comment
Suzanne's avatar

I'm actually old enough that I remember that!

Expand full comment
Jacquie Ostrom's avatar

Me too - 1960

Expand full comment
misia.d's avatar

Thx!

Expand full comment
DeeDeeBee's avatar

Me three...

Expand full comment
Ursel Dougherty's avatar

The escalator took the shoe's place!

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

If only his shoe had been caught in that escalator!

Expand full comment
It's Come To This's avatar

Diarrhea Donnie waddled to the podium and let loose all over the world.

Expand full comment
Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

It's a shame that the audience didn't lob shoes at him, since he probably hasn't anything like the reflexes of Shrubby Bush. It would have been great to see him bonked on his surprisingly undamaged ear by a shoe thrown by some Middle Eastern diplomat . . . [#earcartilagedoesn'tgrowback]

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

Didn't Bush Jr. get a shoe thrown at his head during a press conference somewhere?

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Yes, and it missed! Dang!

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Like thick, hobnailed boots!

Expand full comment
Frances López's avatar

I was fantasizing about shoe throwing, too.

Expand full comment
Donna S Swarr's avatar

Now that I remember.

Expand full comment
Mark Lip's avatar

At least Khrushcev was coherent. I just looked up his quotes. Good stuff but as a kid I focused on the shoe banging at the UN. Great theater, unlike the clown show provided

by the US pResident.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

All we needed was Vance in tights on the trapeze above.

Expand full comment
LHS's avatar

Great. Now I can't get that image out of my mind. 🤢

Expand full comment
COLLEEN BISSELL's avatar

He looked ready to take off his 👞 👞 shoes and pull a GW Bush on the attendees! LMAO 🤣

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

He threw verbal shoes because he cannot reach his shoes to remove them.

But, I'd like to see him try, Colleen Bissell. He'd tumble forward (like a Weeble that wobbles and does fall down) and then we'd get to watch several people struggle to haul him back into an upright position.

Expand full comment
MLK's avatar

I thought that shiuld now be #2 and #3 would be Chavez. Go figure.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--while Khrushchev was a-twirl in his grave.

Expand full comment
Ginny Crouse's avatar

Thank heaven for you, Andy. You are what keeps me having any hope for this country.

Expand full comment
Meighan Corbett's avatar

And Heather Cox Richardson!

Expand full comment
Nancy G's avatar

Yes. Her's is a sane, historical voice rising above the chaos and cacophony.

Expand full comment
Deb Smith's avatar

In any sane world, Trump's UN speech would have resulted in his commitment to an insane asylum.

Expand full comment
Kathleen Sherrieb's avatar

But trump hasn't built them yet. He thinks that mental illness is a dichotomy so you can tell who is crazy and who isn't. Meanwhile, mental health is on a continuum and he is at the extreme level. Build the insane asylums so we have somewhere to put trump.

Expand full comment
Lisa Devereaux's avatar

And the irony of all of that is, Yam Cancer is the one causing a significant number of mental health issues. If he would just go away, the world would be so much better off. I hung out with him for three days when he was married to Marla. I watched the O.J. Simpson slow speed chase in the green room at the Taj Mahal with yam cancer, Marla parentheses with Tiffany on her hip) David Hasselhoff, Pamela Hasselhoff, Davis agent Jan and her girlfriend Polly Bergen. When the CBS helicopter lost its feed covering the bronco, yam cancer was standing directly behind me, and the first thing out of his mouth was, “that’s what CBS gets for hiring that Cunt Connie Chung.“ Same asshole as always. If I had only known then. I think I would’ve taken one for the team.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

Thanks for that story, Lisa Devereaux.

I remember the Orange Shame from back in the NYC 1980's Party days. He always was a class act - LOW class. That's why he could never break into the Manhattan "society" that he craved. He had the money - on and off - but he never had the intelligence or the grace or knowledge of even basic decent behavior. Everyone knew he was a liar and a disgusting thug. The Connie Chung comment is 100% who he is.

I'm still trying to figure how he got elected the first time.

Expand full comment
Lisa Devereaux's avatar

I will never in my life, understand how anyone can support this vile excuse of a human.

Expand full comment
MLK's avatar

I read that as vile excrement...

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

We are going bald, scratching our heads!

Expand full comment
J Cheng's avatar

Yam cancer.....LOL

Expand full comment
Sharon P's avatar

wish you had, but glad you got out (not jailed)

Expand full comment
bitchybitchybitchy's avatar

He belongs in rhe SuperMax federal prison in Florence, Colorado. Solitary confinement

Expand full comment
Lucy Sage's avatar

CECOT

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

No, just jail!

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

(OT) KIMMEL WAS ***AWESOME*** LAST NIGHT!! Once the audience finally stopped cheering, applauding, whistling and hooting a resounding welcome back standing o (this took a long time), Jimmy spoke to and from the heart and also made us all laugh. (Next, we have to get Colbert's job back.)

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

I agree, Wis. And how about Robert DeNiro - was he not spot on?

For anybody who couldn't watch, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1tjh_ZO_tY

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

DeNiro was fabulous!! The sticks and stones bit was hilarious!

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

I LOVE the sticks and stones bit, Wis. And I loved: "About that - speech - it ain't free no more. If you wanna say something nice about the President's beautiful thick yellow hair, or how he can do his make-up better than any broad, that's free. But, if you wanna do a joke like he's so fat he needs 2 seats on the Epstein jet, that's gonna cost you."

That DeNiro could keep in character throughout that bit is proof of what a great actor he is!

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

"Ain't free no more..." -- all of that had me rolling! DeNiro is great all around - as a talented actor (he has such a wide range, from humor to horror), and his politics are intelligently left-leaning. It was wonderful to see his support for Kimmel.

Expand full comment
Patti's avatar

Grazie, Marmo!

Expand full comment
Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

I fear this victory will be short-lived. Now everyone will go back to their Disney and Hulu packages and think that Kimmel and his fans scored some kind of fabulous point. Well, no.

The best way he can win is to RESIGN now, because that would show he won't work for those corporate toadies anymore. Gee, did they change their fascist obedience overnight?

And doesn't Kimmel have enough money yet? Seems to me that many opportunities are open to him now, starting with producing, standup, podcasts, etc. And now he even has Italian citizenship.

Expand full comment
Lucy Conner's avatar

Here's one person who is not going to sign back up for Disney/Hulu. And to be fair, Jimmy Kimmel may have plenty of money, but he also has a lot of regular working folks who make his show happen, and he saved their jobs. Having watched him through the years, I'd bet he was thinking of them and their families.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar
7hEdited

I don't completely agree with that, Dr. Judith Schlesinger. It's true that Kimmel will continue to push Disney products - as Colbert continues to push Paramount products. That's their job. And Kimmel said he's grateful that Disney invited him back - they do so at a risk. But, to expand, they need not only Dump's approval, but also need money - so it didn't feel so good to lose so much in less than a week. It's never going to be about doing the right thing - it's always going to be about money. We won't get scruples, so I think we should be happy to have free speech returned, no matter what is the reason for making the correct decision.

I don't think Kimmel should quit his show. He already has other shows, and he said that he was offered other jobs during his week off air (I'm sure that Colbert is drowning in offers). But, if he quits, then the monsters win - they get what they want and they'll spin it that Kimmel is afraid, and their base will feed on that. It would encourage them to do more of the same.

Mostly, we need as many people telling the truth as we can get. I think it's better that Kimmel continue to work for corporate toadies while exposing them to the mockery that they deserve. When good people quit because they don't want to work with/for the bad people, that leaves only the bad people.

It would be easy for Kimmel and all of them to quit - and it'll be difficult and dangerous for them to stay. But we need them where they are, accessible to as many people as possible, telling the truth and challenging the liars.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

I'm with you, Marmo. 100%.

Expand full comment
jb from Weston's avatar

Judith Schlesinger,

"... many opportunities are open to him now..."

I was thinking while watching him last night that he could run for offfice.

Why not? Zelensky made a helluva go of it, though I wouldn't wish his difficulties on Jimmy.

Expand full comment
Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

JB,

Kimmel has family concerns that might keep him close to home, but you raise a very interesting point. Like, I know I would vote for Jon Stewart in a heartbeat if he ran for dog catcher - why not Kimmel?

That would be a great option for him if he's interested in more than a one-shot, token slap-in-the-face at The Powers That Be. Hmmm...he could take advantage of all the population he's roused, if he so chose...

Interesting!

Expand full comment
Lucy Sage's avatar

We need Jimmy Kimmel. Colbert should run for Governor in SC.

Expand full comment
L. R. Abramson's avatar

You have my vote, Marmo.

Expand full comment
Judith Richards's avatar

I couldn't watch because I can't stay up that late. Not because of age but I'm an early riser. Thanks for the link! DeNiro was great!!

Expand full comment
Cindy Froggatt's avatar

Should I take Tylenol???

Expand full comment
J Cheng's avatar

My hubby and I watched it this morning and I agree - I think we should broadcast his opening monologue in as many public places as possible. He put it into plain language that everyone can understand: what happened to him was UN-AMERICAN!

Expand full comment
Antoinette S. Hamilton's avatar

Kimmel gave me hope.

Expand full comment
Patti's avatar

I cried.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

Me too.

Expand full comment
Patti's avatar

The thing I like about us Borowitzers: we hang together, we snort together … and yes, we cry together.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

We do! We have lots in common.

Expand full comment
David's avatar

He did too.

Expand full comment
William Scoble's avatar

Andy - you bright light and lightness through humor every day. We are all in your debt, and happy to be so!

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

I didn't watch the UN address; all I heard from the media *I* pay attention to was that it was outright embarrassing, it was self-aggrandizing and it was belittling. Gawd, I hope the world knows how many of us Americans are cringing, red-faced at our own president's unhinged, bombastic, condescending and factless ravings.

Expand full comment
Antoinette S. Hamilton's avatar

I did watch it and was so appalled that I couldn't move, even to turn off the sound. Once again this man has brought shame and deep embarrassment to our country. I hope no one in the assembly took him seriously. He tries to control there with fear, threat

Expand full comment
Diane Elias's avatar

Just when you think he can't get any worse he does!!!! When I watched, I too was frozen with disgust and worries about how the delegates would respond. Then I remembered that most of them know how to play him like a cheap fiddle so there was no need to worry.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--as in fact he is something of a cheap musical instrument that produces no beautiful sound whatsoever.

Expand full comment
Lee Roscoe's avatar

Why didn't more of them respond to His Arrogance with more distaste and vitriol? Instead of applauding, they should have laughed him out of the hall.

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Unlike Trump most of them are diplomats

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

yes.

Expand full comment
Frances López's avatar

They applauded? Maybe b/c it was over.

Expand full comment
Antoinette S. Hamilton's avatar

Probably in a state of shock and disbelief.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

Because they understand international etiquette, of which trump knows nothing (nor does he care). If it were a room full of trumps who were being ranted at like that, they'd at the very least have walked out. More likely, they'd order their thugs to drag the ranter out as they heckled and booed him.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--or just plain booed! Chanted, "Mango, Mango Mussolini!"

Expand full comment
Lee Roscoe's avatar

except I like mangos, so maybe another alliteration? Mendacious Mussolini?

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

Mashed-Yam Mussolini!

Expand full comment
Elaine Young's avatar

He figures it works for Congress so it should also work for the UN

Expand full comment
Antoinette S. Hamilton's avatar

Sorry, sent before I meant to. He tries to control them with threats of more tariffs, so they weren't laughing at him this time.

Expand full comment
Lucy Conner's avatar

Did anyone laugh when he was spewing such outrageous craziness? I only saw a few clips and it made me laugh like Kamala did in the debate, when he said people were eating the dogs.

Expand full comment
BTAM Master's avatar

We need to send letters of apologies to all our foreign friends and let them know we don't approve.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

We do. It's not like any of trump's appointed diplomats will do anything but further aggravate, not smooth things over.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

I've been doing that for a long time, BTAM Master. My non-American friends are baffled - and none of them will vacation here while this administration remains in place.

Expand full comment
David's avatar

Rubio is like a ventriloquist's puppet. He'll never be anything more than an embarrassing Little Marco.

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

I sent one to the Canadian Prime Minister two or three months ago.

Expand full comment
David's avatar

Nothing like telling half the countries of the world that their societies are "going to hell" because of the migration coming from the other half of the countries. Trump was there only to divide and conquer. They must not let it stand - there must be a huge pushback from the General Assembly as a whole.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

If all those countries are going to Hell, they'll find us there when they arrive because we've been in Hell for 9 months.

Expand full comment
Ursel Dougherty's avatar

So true... the headline in a German publication "Postillion" this morning read: Confused old Man storms the UN Podium and Speaks Rudely and Insultingly for an hour.

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

Wow! I miss the days of fact-filled News stories.

Expand full comment
Carol Bradford's avatar

I didn’t watch. Can’t bear him. But longing to know if the assembled delegates applauded rapturously or sat in silence? Anybody know?

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

I never watch him, Carol Bradford - I cannot stand the sight, nor the sound of his voice. But, I've seen a clip here and there (way too much). The audience is staring straight ahead with no facial expression (probably afraid they'll be arrested and deported if they yawn). I heard that when it was over, there was muted, small applause.

Did he really ban the Iranian delegates from shopping at Costco??? WTF?

Expand full comment
LHS's avatar

His motorcade held up Macron, who ended up having to walk to the French Consulate. Macron took it in good spirits and joked. Supposedly, he called DJT and joked about it. He stopped and posed for photos with people on the street who recognized him. Can you imagine if it had been DJT who had to wait for Macron's motorcade to pass through?

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

He couldn't even handle a broken escalator without having a hissy fit. A traffic delay would have sent him over the edge. (Well, *more* over the edge, if that's possible.) Trump never takes *ANY*thing "in stride" or with humor.

Expand full comment
Paula's avatar

He would have had a tantrum like the 4-year-old that he is.

Expand full comment
Carrie's avatar

stunned silence. and much fidgeting i expect.

Expand full comment
Wis's avatar

I didn't watch either but I'd be surprised if there was anything more than a polite clapping, if even that, from what I've heard. Had I been there, I'd have grabbed my phone and made the sound of crickets chirping once trump's rant was over. He's so alone in the world.

Expand full comment
LHS's avatar

In 2018, they laughed, which surprised him. In 2025, their faces look stunned. Meidas Touch has a photo of the audience in last night's "Today in Politics" newsletter.

Expand full comment
SUZANNE Marie McAdam's avatar

Mostly silence...some laughter.

Expand full comment
Carol Bradford's avatar

There is a United Nations YouTube channel which has all the speeches with audience cameras as well. Trump had a full house. Zelenskyy had a smaller audience and the Iran speaker had very few in attendance.

Expand full comment
Adam Stoler's avatar

and MAGA has made noises about going to war over the supposed ‘rscalator’ incident

the whole MAGA group ALL of them need to attend anger management classes

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Get the word out to those people, it was his own staff that caused both the elevator and the teleprompter issue

Expand full comment
John Townsend's avatar

--along with medication--continuously via IV bags!

Expand full comment
Karen's avatar

Speaking of the escalator… can we all just take a moment and express gratitude to the escalator gods? That moment was absolutely brilliant!

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Remember before he got elected the first time, he was all proud of descending in the escalator to his adoring crowd. If only that one had stopped abruptly…

Expand full comment
Elliot Daum's avatar

If Trump wants to censor someone to protect his presidency he should censor himself, no one else!

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

Elliot Daum, Sage Source of Wisdom!! Well said.

Expand full comment
Carol Ann Habich-Traut's avatar

Time for a batshit crazy scale!

Expand full comment
J Cheng's avatar

trumpshit crazy scale......

Expand full comment
Winslow Tuttle's avatar

Retire the crown. No one (god willing) will ever top Trump's rant. And, by the way, if you read any of Trump's antics in a novel, wouldn't you think, 'Oh, come on...'?

Expand full comment
David's avatar

Read the novel "It Can't Happen Here", written by Sinclair Lewis in the 1930's.

Expand full comment
Winslow Tuttle's avatar

Ah, yes.

Expand full comment
Sharon P's avatar

I thought it a revenge speech because he didn't get the bid for the UN building's remodel

Expand full comment
Sue Ellen Wright's avatar

Indeed. Please, please plot out a Batshit Crazy Scale, abbreviated BS-C. As a terminologist, I’m tempted to work out the distinction between Batshit (which has “crazy” as its primary attribute) and Bullshit (which is simply disgusting and a lie).

Expand full comment
Marmo's avatar

Interesting, Sue Ellen Wright. I would suggest that Bullshit is bold, shameless lies. And Batshit is insane.

I would say that Batshit almost always includes Bullshit - but Bullshit does not always include Batshit. Plenty of people fling bullshit knowing fully well what they are doing and they choose to not care. But, people like Dump spew bullshit because they are batshit - they've lost the distinction between reality and their own delusions, and they are not able to care because - well - they're batshit crazy. What do you think?

Expand full comment
Susie's avatar

Well reasoned analysis. I approve. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Expand full comment