Live in Chicago, Trevor Noah discussed the fallout from Donald Trump’s remarks to the widow of an American soldier killed in an ambush in Niger

Trevor Noah: 'If you work for Trump, find a new job or stock up on adult diapers'

Trevor Noah, in his fourth of five live shows at Chicago’s Athenaeum Theatre, discussed the controversy about President Trump’s insensitive remarks to the widow of one of the fallen soldiers, Sgt La David Johnson.

Trevor Noah: Trump's response to Niger 'was basically the dog ate my homework' Read more

“We’ve gone from a simple question about Niger to a three-day media shitstorm about whether Trump called families and what he says when he calls these families,” Noah began. “Because by the sound of it, the families may start out hoping that the president would reach out, and they end up wishing that they had let his calls go to voicemail.”

Noah then briefly recapped the fiasco; in a phone call to Myeshia Johnson, the president reportedly said her late husband La David “knew what he signed up for”, an account corroborated by congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who was in the car with Johnson at the time of the phone call.

“In Trump’s defense, and I know people don’t like hearing that phrase, Donald Trump is the worst at words,” Noah said. “He was probably trying to convey a heartfelt message but instead the people interpreted it as him disrespecting the troops. I bet you wherever Colin Kaepernick is right now, he’s probably like, ‘well, ain’t that a bitch.’”

Noah continued: “I don’t think we should be surprised that Trump offended this family. We’ve all heard him speak. We’re offended every day. What do you think, a phone is going to magically transform him into Sir Phineas the Eloquent?”

Trevor Noah at the Atheneaum Theatre.

“Clearly Donald Trump sucks at making these calls, which is unfortunate because I don’t know who at the White House can make these calls,” Noah joked. “Jared Kushner can’t do it because he’s on line one fixing the Middle East. You don’t want Sarah Huckabee Sanders calling because she’ll tell you your son didn’t die. And 30 other people can’t do it because they’ve all been fired. Maybe Melania can make the call, although I don’t trust her to not sneak in her personal agenda. I wouldn’t be shocked if she was like, ‘I’m so jealous for the loss of your husband.’”

Noah then discussed the origins of the controversy, which began at a press conference last week in which Trump and the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, intended to show a united front and debunk rumors of their mutual enmity. When the president made a comment at the press conference about being the only president to call the families of fallen troops, it began a week-long media firestorm.

“Trump can’t be faulted for not being articulate,” Noah went on. “But he can be blamed for making an unnecessary problem worse. When people accused him of being insensitive he could’ve just said, ‘I apologize, it wasn’t my intention to offend anyone.’ But instead, he acts like this.”

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Noah then showed footage of Trump responding to Congresswoman Wilson’s account; in the video, his arms are crossed and he repeatedly says he did not say what Wilson, and Sgt Johnson’s mother, claim he said.

“At the end of another week, going through another scandal that didn’t need to exist,” Noah concluded. “Look, this problem isn’t getting any better. So basically, if you’re working for Trump you need to find a new job or stock up on some adult diapers.”