Trevor Noah, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and several other comedians hurled jokes at President Donald Trump as they helped raise money for military veterans on Tuesday night.
At the raucous event at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Noah said he was ‘terrified’ for America, while Oliver said falling in love with the US was ‘like falling in love with a girl who’s throwing up all over herself’.
The annual Stand Up for Heroes event was co-presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival.
At the raucous Stand Up for Heroes event at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Trevor Noah said he was ‘terrified’ for America
During John Stewart’s set, the comedian marveled at the fact that 10-15 per cent of Barack Obama supporters voted for Trump
British comedian Oliver, meanwhile, compared falling in love with America to ‘falling in love with a girl who’s throwing up all over herself’
It kicked off the festival and raised money for the Woodruff foundation, which funds programs for injured veterans and their families.
The foundation is named for the ABC news anchor injured in Iraq in 2006 and has raised some $40 million.
The front rows of the theater at Madison Square Garden were reserved for veterans from all branches – some badly injured – and seats were also set aside for new cadets.
While Lee Woodruff, Bob’s wife, pleaded for everyone to ‘set aside politics,’ there wasn’t much love lost onstage for President Donald Trump. The audience mostly took it in stride.
Oliver, a British comedian living in the United States, joked about finding a way to love America in its current state.
In another set, Conan O’Brien compared President Donald Trump to the backside of an orange cat
Two comedians avoided Trump entirely. Hasan Minhaj (left) did a bit on Disney princesses and John Mulaney (right) had fun with grade school assemblies and the fact that machines now try to make sure we humans aren’t robots online
The annual Stand Up for Heroes event was co-presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival
John Oliver poses with Marine veteran Kionte Storey (left) and Ivan Castro (center), a US Army officer who continues to serve on active duty in the Special Forces despite losing his eyesight
‘It’s a strange time to be in love with America right now,’ Oliver said. ‘Some would offer you are not at your finest.
‘Falling in love with America right now is like falling in love with a girl who’s throwing up all over herself. You hold her hair back and say, ‘Let it all out. You just made a mistake, that’s all’.’
Meanwhile, Stewart marveled at the fact that 10-15 per cent of Barack Obama supporters voted for Trump.
He joked: ‘You know who I want to vote for is that very staid, professorial gentleman from Kenyan birth who has an articulate sense and is a bit standoffish, that’s the guy that I really love. But since he’s not running this year, I’m gonna check out the “grab ’em by the p****’ candidate.’
‘How do you even get there?’ Stewart later asked. ‘It’s like a guy who’s like, “It didn’t work out with my girlfriend so now I’m going out with a toaster”.’
He added: ‘That’s really, I think, where our country is at right now. We put our d*** in the toaster and we’re all waiting to see what happens. What the f***, man?’
Noah admitted he was conflicted with President Trump.
‘On the one hand, I do wake up terrified most days that he’s president of the most powerful nation in the world,’ he said. ‘But, on the other hand, I must admit I wake up every day knowing he’s going to make me laugh.’
The front rows of the theater at Madison Square Garden were reserved for veterans from all branches during the event. Pictured left to right, Jen Oh, Israel Del Toro, Ivan Castro, Deondra Parks and Kionte Storey attend the 11th Annual Stand Up for Heroes Event presented by The New York Comedy Festival and The Bob Woodruff Foundation
While Lee Woodruff (right, with Bob), Bob’s wife, pleaded for everyone to ‘set aside politics,’ there wasn’t much love lost onstage for President Donald Trump. The audience mostly took it in stride
Also at the event, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played an electric set that included the songs Can’t Stop, Dark Necessities, Snow (Hey Oh), By the Way and Hey
In another set, Conan O’Brien compared Trump to the backside of an orange cat.
But the comedians didn’t spend all their time bashing Trump – two avoided discussing the president entirely.
Hasan Minhaj did a bit on Disney princesses and John Mulaney had fun with grade school assemblies and the fact that machines now try to make sure we humans aren’t robots online
And those who did joke about the commander in chief also had some non-political jokes for the audience.
On a rainy night in New York, Conan O’Brien also mocked Los Angeles residents who can’t handle drizzle, Oliver told an embarrassing story of when he ran a race in school and Noah said he hoped never to die in a drive-by.
‘I want you to park. Is that too much to ask?’ Noah joked.
Also at the event, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played an electric set that included the songs Can’t Stop, Dark Necessities, Snow (Hey Oh), By the Way and Hey.
Leslie Odom Jr, of Hamilton fame, sang the national anthem.