Here’s What Happens When John Oliver Tries to Take Donald Trump’s Biggest Campaign Promise Seriously


John Oliver continued his campaign to #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain this week with a takedown of the Republican front-runner’s repeated calls to build a massive wall at the US-Mexico border—a plan Trump first introduced last June with the inflammatory statement that Mexicans were crime-peddling “rapists.”

“The border wall is one of the few policy proposals Trump has talked about in details, so instead of mocking or dismissing it out of hand, let’s take a serious proposal by a serious presidential candidate seriously,” Oliver said.

The Last Week Tonight host went on to expose the major problems with the real estate magnate’s signature immigration policy (other than the sheer xenophobia embedded in the plan), explaining to viewers that such a wall would likely cost $26 billion—far more than the $4 billion Trump tells his supporters it would take.

“It’s a big dumb thing that only gets more expensive over time,” Oliver said. “It’s like getting a pet walrus: You think it’s stupid now—wait until you learn what a bucket of sea cucumbers costs. You’re not prepared for that.”

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY...

Trump is clamping down on the media—using lawsuits, lies, intimidation, and a thuggish Federal Communications Commission. Corporate media are caving, but Mother Jones won’t back down. To help us stand strong, a generous board member has chipped in a $50,000 digital matching gift. Help us make the most of it!

Every contribution through September 30 will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

We have nearly 50 years of experience standing up to bullies. Government intimidation, nuisance lawsuits, threats to our nonprofit status—we’ve seen it all. Yet because we’re supported by a community of readers like you, we’re still here and still reporting like hell. Please stand with us. Every dollar you give will go twice as far.

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