Regrets. John Oliver acknowledged his role in Donald Trump‘s campaign for president during Last Week Tonight on Sunday, November 6.
As some Daily Show fans may remember, back in 2013 the British TV host, 39, actually encouraged the GOP nominee, 70, to run.
“We are at a point where this man has a genuine shot at the presidency, despite having blown up a political party, undermined confidence in our electoral system, declared open season on journalists and unleashed a river of racism and misogyny. Also, I feel like we’ve lost sight of this, he has really stupid hair. It’s important to remember that,” Oliver said on Sunday night. “It is frankly hard to believe that there was a time when people thought a Trump candidacy would be funny, but there was such a time because, as you may remember, three years ago I guest-hosted The Daily Show. And, well, there is something you should see.”
In the Daily Show clip, Oliver reacted to the news that the former Celebrity Apprentice host might throw his hat in the ring. “Do it! Do it! Look at me! Do it!” he said at the time. “I will personally write you a campaign check now, on behalf of this country, which does not want you to be president but which badly wants you to run.”
Oliver’s past remarks didn’t go over well with his audience on Sunday. Even he admitted he couldn’t defend himself. “I want to believe America will reject Donald Trump, that our innate sense of decency will kick in, like some sort of moral autopilot. But I have been spectacularly wrong before,” he said. “I’m an idiot. But that clearly shows, no outcome is certain. So if you are thinking you don’t have to show up on Tuesday because there is no way the impossible could happen, take it from somebody who has learned from painful experience: You are wrong about that.”
Oliver has bashed Trump on several occasions. This year, he called him a “damaged, sociopathic narcissist,” “America’s back mole” and even poked fun at his ancestors’ last name, Drumpf, by selling “Make Donald Drumpf Again” hats.
Watch Oliver in the video above!
