Conan O’Brien warns comics not to lose sight of humour in the age of President Trump

Veteran comedian Conan O’Brien is urging fellow comics to keep comedy at the heart of their work, even while tackling the polarizing and unpredictable presidency of Donald Trump, saying that too much anger can weaken their craft.

O’Brien made his remarks during a conversation at the Oxford Union, stressing that political satire is still important but warning against letting frustration overshadow genuine humor.

O’Brien highlighted how Trump’s unconventional style and frequent surprises make it harder for comedians to find a stable rhythm for jokes. “Comedy needs a straight line to go off of. And we don’t have a straight line right now. We have a very bendy, rubbery line… so comedically, it’s been very challenging,” he said, describing the current political landscape as difficult for satire.

The former late-night host criticized comics who rely mainly on repeating anti-Trump chants without adding cleverness to their performances, saying that in doing so they’ve abandoned comedy’s most powerful asset.

“I think some comics go the route of ‘I’m going to just say F Trump all the time,’ … and I think you’ve now put down your best weapon, which is being funny, and you’ve exchanged it for anger,” O’Brien said, noting that humor is more effective than rage for critiquing power.

He also addressed the idea that current events are “too serious” for jokes, arguing instead that comedians must find ways to channel their feelings into creative expression.

“That person … would say, ‘Well, things are too serious now. I don’t need to be funny,’ and I think, well, if you’re a comedian, you always need to be funny. You just have to find a way to channel that anger,” O’Brien explained.

To illustrate how political comedy has become more complicated, O’Brien drew on examples from his own experience in satire, explaining that unpredictable real-world events leave less room for clever exaggeration. While his comments touch on frustration with the current environment, he stopped short of dismissing political humor altogether, insisting that intelligent, humorous critique remains vital.