Culture

10 Times That Trump Was Actually Kind of Funny

Over the course of the election, Trump workshopped a bragging, mocking (borderline inappropriate) brand of humor all his own.

From trolling SNL to skipping out on the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, POTUS has developed a reputation as a guy who can’t take a joke. But that doesn’t mean he can’t dish it out. He’s eager to subtweet Schwarzenegger, snark at uncooperative world leaders, and openly goad his political opponents. Over the course of the presidential election, Trump workshopped a bragging, mocking (borderline inappropriate) brand of humor all his own. The flipside of LOL? The stealthily deployed, smirking one-liner.

  • 01

    “My biggest opponent was the microphone.”
    —October 3, 2016, after debating Hillary Clinton

    Image may contain Coat Clothing Overcoat Apparel Suit Human Person Audience Crowd and Speech
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

  • 02

    “I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those [New Celebrity Apprentice] ratings.”
    —February 2, 2017, at the National Prayer Breakfast

    Win McNamee/Getty Images

  • 03

    “I have this thing called Twitter and Facebook, which is amazing actually. It’s like owning The New York Times without the losses.”
    —September 24, 2015, on Morning Joe

    Sean Rayford/Getty Images

  • 04

    "Let me start with Little Marco. He just looked like Little Marco to me. And it’s not Little. It’s L-I-D-D-L-E.”
    —March 2016, to New York magazine about Marco Rubio

    Win McNamee/Getty Images

  • 05

    “Most of the people standing behind me will not be able to go to work … So you have one last chance to get out.”
    —January 28, 2017, after extending an executive order limiting officials’ lobbying after they leave government

    Mandel Ngan/Getty Images

  • 06

    “We’re going to get rid of [the Johnson Amendment] so fast … I figure it’s the only way I’m getting to heaven.”
    —September 9, 2016, on a law that bans tax-exempt churches from donating money to political candidates

    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

  • 07

    “He’s become more famous than me.”
    —­January 22, 2017, on FBI director James Comey

    Getty Images

  • 08

    “It used to be cars were made in Flint and you couldn’t drink the water in Mexico. Now cars are made in Mexico and you can’t drink the water in Flint.”
    —September 15, 2016, at the Economic Club of New York

    Mandel Ngan/Getty Images

  • 09

    “Maybe she fainted at how good-looking I am.”
    —January 27, 2016, after a woman collapsed at a rally in Gilbert, South Carolina

    Richard Ellis/Alamy

  • 10

    “What can look so beautiful at 30? An airplane.”
    —February 17, 2017, of Air Force One

    Sean Rayford/Getty Images

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Lauren Murrow is a senior editor at WIRED, where she edits the features, Ideas, and the Opinion section. She also oversees 6x6, the magazine’s back page. Prior to joining WIRED she was the market editor at New York magazine and deputy editor at San Francisco magazine, covering technology, design, and ... Read More
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