Conan O'Brien says comedians who only say 'F Trump' are being co-opted

Conan O'Brien told the Oxford Union that repeatedly saying "F Trump" can replace a comedian's skill with anger, and he said Trump's outlandish behavior sometimes makes satire hard because reality already seems exaggerated.

Conan O'Brien spoke at the Oxford Union about how Donald Trump's personality and actions have affected contemporary comedy. He noted that some comics respond by repeatedly using anger as their primary form of expression. O'Brien compared the challenge of satirizing Trump to trying to parody the National Enquirer, an outlet he described as already so exaggerated it resists parody. He argued that comedy still needs a clear line to work from and that losing that line can blunt a comedian's best tool. Key points: - Conan O'Brien addressed the Oxford Union on the relationship between Trump-era reality and satire. - He said that simply shouting "F Trump" can mean comedians exchange humor for anger and become co-opted by that anger. - O'Brien compared Trump's real-world behavior to the National Enquirer, saying reality can be too outlandish to parody and that satire loses a straight line to follow. - He stated that good art is a strong weapon against power, but that comedians must find ways to channel anger into craft rather than only expressing it. Summary: O'Brien framed the current moment as a challenge for satirists because extreme real-world behavior can undermine the usual tools of parody, and he cautioned against letting anger replace comedic craft. Undetermined at this time.