Conan O'Brien Has A Blunt Message For 'F Trump' Comedians Who Are 'Just Angry'

Conan O’Brien delivered a reality check to the “F Trump” comedians who, he says, are consumed by anger.

During a sit-down with the Oxford Union on Tuesday, the comedian explained that while he’s repeatedly heard people say that President Donald Trump is “so great for comedy,” he disagrees.

The former late-night TV host argued that because Trump is known for “talking crazy,” it’s more challenging to construct satire about his actions. He pointed to the president’s controversial White House ballroom construction project as something that comedy writers would’ve thought of as a potential sketch if it hadn’t already transpired in real life.

“Comedy needs a straight line to go off of, and we don’t have a straight line right now. We have a very bendy, rubbery line,” he said.

O’Brien made the remarks after he was asked about his “very interesting observations about Trump” and how his “presidency has impacted comedy.”

The former “Conan” host went on to declare that comedians who are “so angry” about Trump are surrendering their “best weapon.”

“Some comics go the route of ‘I’m going to just say ‘F Trump’ all the time’ or that’s their comedy. And I think well now, a little bit, you’re being co-opted because you’re so angry,” he explained. “You’ve been lulled. It’s like a siren leading you into the rocks. You’ve been lulled into just saying ‘F Trump. F Trump. F Trump. Screw this guy.’”

O’Brien added, “And I think you’ve now put down your best weapon, which is being funny, and you’ve exchanged it for anger.”

The writer then offered up his thoughts on the people who say “things are too serious now” in today’s political climate for comedians to “be funny.”

“That person or any person like that would say, ‘Well, things are too serious now. I don’t need to be funny.’ And I think, well, if you’re a comedian, you always need to be funny. You just have to find a way. And you just have to find a way to channel that anger into a way … because good art will always be a great weapon, will always be a perfect weapon against power.”

He added, “But if you’re just screaming and you’re just angry, you’ve lost your best tool in the toolbox.”

Watch O’Brien’s conversation with the Oxford Union below.