‘A complete mess’: John Oliver criticises Donald Trump’s handling of coronavirus crisis

‘The president’s response has sadly been characterised by disorganisation and lies’, said the comedian

John Oliver has attacked Donald Trump‘s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the latest episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO, the comic called Trump’s Oval Office address a “complete mess”, and pointed out the US President’s false statements.

Speaking in front of a stark white backdrop, Oliver was one of several talk show hosts to get rid of his usual studio audience due to coronavirus fears.

Said Oliver: ”[Trump] managed to mistakenly claim that imports from Europe were being cut off which they were not, that insurers would waive copays not just for testing but for treatment which at present, they won’t, and seemed to imply that Americans in Europe could not get back into the country, which they can.

At another point, the comedian said: “The president’s response has sadly been characterised by disorganisation and lies.”

While much of the tirade against Trump was irate and sincere, Oliver switched back to his usual light-hearted tone to play a TikTok video of a hamster instructing people how to best wash their hands to prevent the coronavirus spreading.

“It is truly sad that a hamster just genuinely offered more useful public health advice in one 12-second TikTok than the president has in multiple addresses to the nation,” he quipped.

Last Week Tonight airs in the UK on Sky Comedy.