Things We Saw Today: Brian Williams Delivers Epic Takedown of Donald Trump

Last night on MSNBC, Brian Williams delivered an epic takedown of Donald Trump’s COVID-19 response. In the final segment of The 11th Hour with Brian Williams, the anchor responded to a clip from Fox & Friends, where Geraldo Rivera suggested that the coronavirus vaccine should be named after President Trump. This is absurd of course, as Donald Trump’s complete failure to address the virus has led to over 250K deaths and over 12 million cases nationally.

Williams responded sarcastically, saying “It’s possible we just don’t give the president enough credit for his FDR-like devotion to tackling this virus,” adding “His laserlike focus, his daily devotion, the sympathy he’s forever expressing to the families of the quarter-million dead. Even the way the president lectures us in that way to please wear a mask and stop the spread. And he’s always advocated injections. Geraldo may be on to something.” As he rattled off all the things a normal president would do, MSNBC played clips of Trump golfing through the crisis and ignoring safety protocols.

Williams continued his monologue, taking Trump’s failed side hustles to task by saying, “What Trump Steaks did for the hungry, what Trump Water did for the thirsty in our nation, what Trump University did to lift up the uneducated in our country — well, along comes Trump the vaccine. Possibilities, I think you’ll agree, are endless.”

It was a well-written, eloquent burn that quickly began trending on social media. Many responded with kudos for Williams and the team at MSNBC for succinctly calling out Trump’s myriad failures.

This is one big chef’s kiss, and honestly we love to see it.

(via MSNBC, image: screencap)

• Freddy’s back! Robert Englund joins the cast of season 4 of Stranger Things. (via io9)
• Everyone’s talking about Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity on Nintendo Switch. (via Polygon)
• A Wipeout contestant has died after completing the show’s obstacle course. (via Variety)
• We’re dying over this teeny tiny owl found in the Rockefeller Christmas tree:
See more

They found a small owl inside of this year’s Rockefeller Christmas tree, he hitched a ride all the way to NYC and is now being treated and cared for at a wildlife rehab facility. pic.twitter.com/f4PkBm6MGo

— Allison Esposito Medina (@techladyallison) November 18, 2020

• We’re gonna go ahead and but these Star Wars pinball machines on our Christmas wish list. (via CBR)
• Gillian Anderson discusses her roles on The Crown and Sex Education. Can you say crossover episode? (No, no you can’t.) (via Collider)
• RIP Herbert F. Solow, the TV executive who convinced NBC to greenlight the original Star Trek series. Solow passed away at the age of 89. (via Syfy Wire)
• Relatable, honestly:
See more

Deleted some tweets because I thought I wanted to have a conversation and turns out nope it's Saturday I don't

— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) November 21, 2020

How’s your Saturday shaping up, Mary Suevians?

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

twitter