Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah suspect race may have played some part in Trump's slur

Trevor Noah and Jimmy Kimmel slam Trump on "shithole" comment
(Image credit: Screenshots/YouTube/The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live)

"The president had another preposterous day today," Jimmy Kimmel sighed on Thursday's Kimmel Live. First he tweeted out one data point from a poll that was otherwise brutal for him, then he rejected a bipartisan deal for DACA immigrants. But it was the reason he rejected the DACA deal — it restored protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Africa — that caused the biggest splash. "Before I share specifically what he said," Kimmel began, "I would like you to keep in mind this is an actual quote from the actual president of the United States."

"Listen, I'm sure the fact the countries he described as 'shitholes' are mostly populated by people of color, and the immigrants he wants from Norway are not, is a coincidence," Kimmel deadpanned. "Because if it wasn't, it would mean we voted for a racist, like a real one, and we'd have to get pitchforks and chase him out of the White House." The White House didn't even bother denying Trump's comment. "It really is unfathomable — you just can't believe that this is the guy running our country," Kimmel said. "The only silver lining, and this is a small silver lining," was watching Wolf Blitzer say "s-hole" all day.

On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah said he'd planned to do a positive segment on Trump and the Koreas, but Trump just had to do something Trump. "Guys, I don't know how to break this to you, but I think the president might be racist," Noah said. "Personally, as someone from South Shithole, I'm offended, Mr. President." The whole comment is bad, but the part that "really put it over the line for me is Norway," he added. "When he said where he wanted immigrants to come from, he didn't just name a white country, he named the whitest country." He had a theory on how Trump picked Norway, too. Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.