As the dust settles on the shocking outcome of the 2024 presidential election, many Americans are grappling with a complex mix of emotions. In a raw and revealing episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver didn’t mince words about his own reaction to Donald Trump’s re-election. “It has been a rough week,” he confessed, “which is, to put it mildly, not what I was personally hoping would happen.”
Validating the Grief
With his signature blend of wit and sincerity, Oliver validated the pain and confusion that many are feeling. “Lots of us are grieving and grief has stages,” he acknowledged. “We take different amounts of time for different people.” He openly shared his own emotional journey, from anger over threatened rights to despair at the long-term damage another Trump term could inflict.
“Whether you’re angry right now, or despairing, or Googling ‘new country no fascists how move,’ do what you’ve gotta do. But try not to completely obliterate yourself in despair.”
– John Oliver
Resisting the Blame Game
While it’s tempting to point fingers in the wake of defeat, Oliver cautioned against playing the “blame game” that some have engaged in, from criticizing certain voter demographics to mocking Katy Perry’s rally performance. “You can basically play your own ‘wheel of blame’ and generally make sure it lands on whoever you were mad at in the first place,” he quipped. Instead, he urged viewers to focus on processing their own valid emotions without attacking others who are also hurting.
Clinging to Hope
Yet even in his anger and anguish, Oliver found glimmers of hope to hold onto. He highlighted historic wins like Delaware electing the nation’s first openly transgender House member, several states overturning abortion bans, and other signs that “Democratic policies are still popular even in a year that their candidate wasn’t.” These small victories, he argued, are vital to fending off despair.
- Allow yourself to feel your authentic emotions
- Resist the urge to attack others who are also in pain
- Remember the “small victories” and let them sustain you
Oliver’s sober and heartfelt analysis struck a deep chord. “Despair doesn’t help anything,” he concluded. “If anything, it makes things worse.” With empathy, nuance, and even humor, he charts a path forward for all who are struggling to come to terms with an uncertain future.
In the end, perhaps his most powerful message was one of resilience. “You might well be exhausted, confused, scared and running on fucking fumes right now,” Oliver said. “Which is fucking understandable, but you might be surprised just how far you can still get even on fumes.” It’s the encouragement that a shaken nation needs to pick up the pieces and keep on fighting for a better tomorrow.
