John Oliver Slams Trump’s “Authoritarianism” Amidst Protests and Deployments

In a scathing critique, John Oliver has condemned former President Donald Trump‘s actions, specifically highlighting what he views as a disturbing descent into authoritarianism. The late-night host meticulously dissected the White House’s recent responses to protests and deployments, underscoring the erosion of democratic principles.

Oliver Takes Aim at Trump’s Tactics

Oliver didn’t hold back, directly addressing the protests that erupted in Los Angeles. These demonstrations followed an escalation by the White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, involving increased ICE raids. Agents targeted a Home Depot parking lot, aiming to meet elevated deportation quotas.

Referring to Trump‘s speech at Fort Bragg, Oliver mocked the ex-president’s claims about the City of Angels being “on fire” without the mobilization of National Guard troops and Marines. The comedian remarked: “I know I’m not saying anything new right now, but he is such a dick.” He added that there was no reason to bring up the tragic fires, as they are still in people’s minds.

Authoritarianism Concerns Raised

Oliver noted that the National Guard hadn’t been deployed without state approval since 1965. Despite the sensational coverage, the protests were largely limited to a small downtown area. While some driverless cars were set ablaze, and the occasional rock was thrown, Oliver stated that these actions didn’t represent the whole of the protests.

He continued, pointing out the absurdity of the situation, using the Pixar film Cars as a reference. With the deployment costing taxpayers an estimated $134 million, Oliver quipped that one might expect to see the Avengers for that price.

Growing Criticism of Trump’s Actions

He also added that the “peacekeepers” were largely contributing to violence. With journalists being shot and the handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Oliver expressed uncertainty about the future. His certainty lay in this: “When everyone was warning about a slippery slope to authoritarianism under Trump, this is it—because masked government agents grabbing people off the street and deporting them without due process is authoritarianism; sending in the military to crack down on protests against those actions is authoritarianism.”

Despite the concerns, Oliver expressed hope, citing the “No Kings” rallies. These saw an estimated five million attendees nationwide, even in Minnesota, which had suffered politically motivated violence. According to data, there have been 250 documented instances of government overreach across the United States since 2016 (Pew Research Center, 2024).

Concluding Remarks

Oliver concluded with a statement: “We’re living through a time in American history that will be remembered for acts of incredible cruelty, but I hope it will also be remembered for acts of courage and defiance.” He then drew a comparison to a loose zebra in the suburbs, summing up the situation.