John Oliver Lays Out The Most Disturbing Ways In Which Trump Impacts America

The president uses three key techniques, the late-night host says.

John Oliver closed out the fourth season of “Last Week Tonight” by examining the dangerous ways in which President Donald Trump has reestablished norms in American politics.

The late-night host identified three key techniques Trump uses to protect himself from criticism and avoid any consequences, methods that could have serious implications if they’re consistently overlooked.

“It’s so important to train ourselves to identify these techniques because their natural endpoint is the erosion of our ability to decide what’s important, have an honest debate and hold one another accountable,” Oliver said.

While Oliver described the state of American affairs as “very bleak,” he did make an impassioned plea to viewers battling against the president’s agenda: Keep going.

Take a look at the full clip in the video above.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Trump Travels Through Asia
(01 of20)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Donald Trump flies via Marine One helicopter over the Tokyo suburbs to meet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(02 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wave to reporters after they signed hats reading 'Donald and Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater'. (credit:POOL New / Reuters)
(03 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump gestures to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japanese professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama looks on, as they play golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, north of Tokyo, Japan. (credit:KYODO Kyodo / Reuters)
(04 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump pours fish food out as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on while they were feeding carps before their working lunch at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(05 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump puts on a U.S. Pacific Air Forces bomber jacket before delivering remarks to members of the U.S. military at Yokota Air Base, Japan. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(06 of20)
Open Image Modal
First Lady Melania Trump shows her calligraphy with Akie Abe, wife of Japanese prime minister, while attending a calligraphy class of 4th graders at the Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo. (credit:POOL New / Reuters)
(07 of20)
Open Image Modal
Melania Trump and Japan's first lady Akie Abe visit Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo. (credit:POOL New / Reuters)
(08 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump smiles during a joint press conference with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea. (credit:POOL New / Reuters)
(09 of20)
Open Image Modal
White House senior staff discuss the situation as U.S. President Donald Trump sits in his car after being grounded from an attempt to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea, at a U.S. military post in Seoul. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(10 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania visit the Forbidden City. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(11 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump shakes hands with opera performers at the Forbidden City. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(12 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump departs Seoul in Marine One while en-route to Osan Air Base, South Korea. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(13 of20)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song (credit:Aly Song / Reuters)
(14 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One at Beijing, China. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(15 of20)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony at the Great hall of the People in Beijing, China. (credit:Damir Sagolj / Reuters)
(16 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (credit:Damir Sagolj / Reuters)
(17 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport. (credit:Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
(18 of20)
Open Image Modal
Melania Trump smiles with children holding U.S. and China flags as she visits Beijing Zoo. (credit:Thomas Peter / Reuters)
(19 of20)
Open Image Modal
Melania Trump visits the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. (credit:Thomas Peter / Reuters)
(20 of20)
Open Image Modal
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they pose for a group photo ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit leaders gala dinner in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 10, 2017. (credit:MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV via Getty Images)