When politicians say something they don’t actually believe, they don’t typically tell you that — because it would be an admission to lying. Donald Trump is different.
Speaking to a crowd in Wisconsin this week, Trump let this slip: "Speaker Paul Ryan. … He has been terrific. And you know, honestly, he’s like a fine wine: Every day goes by I get to appreciate his genius more and more. Now if he ever goes against me, I’m not going to say that."
It’s that last part — where Trump admits that he can take away what he says at any moment — that caught Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s attention: "What stands out in that clip to me is not the compliment, but how blatantly Trump admits how empty his words are."
"If Paul Ryan is like a fine wine, then Donald Trump is like a fine meth," Noah added. "Just a little and you’re like, ‘What the fuck is going on?’"
This isn’t the first time Trump has admitted to dishonesty. Noah gave a few examples of what he calls "Truth Trump" coming out:
- Trump on the Republican primary system being rigged in May, as he secured the party’s nomination: "You’ve been hearing me say it’s a rigged system. But now I don’t say it anymore because I won. Okay? It’s true. You know, now I don’t care."
- Trump on his promise to prosecute Hillary Clinton and "lock her up": "Forget it. That plays great before the election. Now we don’t care, right?"
- Trump on his slogan to "drain the swamp": "Funny how that term caught on, isn’t it? I tell everyone: I hated it! Somebody said, ‘Drain the swamp.’ I said, ‘Oh, that’s so hokey. That is so terrible.’ I said, ‘All right. I’ll try it.’ So like a month ago, I said, ‘Drain the swamp.’ The place went crazy. I said, ‘Whoa. Watch this.’ Then I said it again. Then I started saying it like I meant it, right? And then I said it, I started loving it."
"You see? It throws everyone off," Noah said. "Because politicians aren’t supposed to be honest with their lying." He added, "You know what Trump is like? He’s like a magician telling everyone how he did the trick. And still some people are like, ‘Wow, magic. It’s magic! Oooh.’"
