In a recent episode of "Last Week Tonight," host John Oliver delivered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump's penchant for prominently featuring his name and likeness on various government items. Oliver highlighted that this tendency has reached new heights with recent announcements from the Trump administration.
Trump's Signature on Currency Sparks Debate
Oliver pointed out that just this week, the Treasury Department revealed that President Trump's signature will appear on U.S. currency, marking an unprecedented move for a sitting president. "This is just the latest example of Trump awkwardly inserting himself into places he doesn't belong," Oliver remarked during the show. He contrasted this with Trump's addition of his name to the U.S. Institute of Peace, calling it a "bold" decision given the ongoing tensions and conflicts with Iran under his leadership.
National Park Pass Controversy
The comedian also took aim at the new America the Beautiful Annual Pass issued by the National Park Service, which now features Trump's image on the front. Oliver described this as "weird," noting that Trump has implemented significant budget cuts to national parks, suggesting he "seems to hate them." Typically, these passes showcase nature scenes or winners of an annual photo contest, as required by law, making Trump's inclusion a departure from tradition that has sparked an ongoing lawsuit.
Oliver humorously criticized the image, saying it looks like Trump is "getting a prostate exam from George Washington" or that it was generated by artificial intelligence with the prompt, "What would Ebenezer Scrooge look like today?" The unpopularity of the image has led to a burgeoning cottage industry where people create and sell stickers designed to cover up Trump's face on the passes.
Sticker Campaign and Administration Response
"There is something inspiring about seeing people find a way to enjoy their experience at national parks without having to look at the guy who's actively trying to ruin them," Oliver said, praising the grassroots effort. However, the Trump administration responded by announcing an updated policy stating that passes with stickers would no longer be accepted, attempting to curb this practice.
Undeterred, Oliver and his team launched a counter-initiative, creating a series of downloadable images that individuals can print at home onto stickers to conceal Trump's mug on the park pass. Among these is an "absolute masterpiece" featuring a bear sticking out its tongue, perfectly aligned to cover the president's face. All these designs are available on the website JohnOliverGivesTrumpHeads.com, encouraging continued public defiance.
This episode underscores the ongoing tensions between Trump's self-promotional tactics and public backlash, with Oliver's commentary adding a layer of satire to the political discourse surrounding these actions.
