Samantha Bee warns that Rudy Giuliani is successfully selling Trump's 'spygate' lie
Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's personal Russia investigation lawyer, is surprisingly frank that his media tour to undermine Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is "all just a big PR campaign," Samantha Bee said on Wednesday's Full Frontal. "Rudy is like a James Bond villain who explains his evil plot to 007 before he actually catches him — although no Bond villain has ever had teeth quite as grotesque as Rudy Giuliani, chaos demon."
In "his best moments," Giuliani "forgets he's there to lie and whoopsies out some true things," Bee said, showing examples. "But Trump's not keeping Rudy around for his brilliant legal mind, he's keeping him around to spread brilliant propaganda," specifically his "spygate" conspiracy. "No matter how many times Trump says it, there is no 'spygate,'" she explained. The FBI informant "was never implanted in the campaign, and none of this remotely sabotaged Trump who, if the trail of Happy Meal toys to the Resolute Desk is any indication, is our president."
"Of course, Trump and Rudy's story doesn't need to convince everyone, it just has to convince enough of his base so he can discredit the Mueller investigation," Bee said. "But to do that, he'd need a conservative media machine that's dishonest and manipulative enough to play along." You see where that's going. "Even though the Mueller probe has turned up 17 indictments and five guilty pleas, the 'spygate' narrative is successfully stirring up doubt about its legitimacy," she added. "We can make fun of Rudy all we want — and we will, because it's one of the few things that still brings us joy — but what he's doing is working. He's kind of like Loki, in that he spreads mischief and dates back thousands of years. But contrary to popular liberal belief, Rudy is not some senile old lunatic, he's a perfectly aware old lunatic who's genuinely enjoying screwing around with us." Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Keith O'Brien's 6 must-read books about significant moments in sports history
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Laura Hillenbrand, Jonathan Eig and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why are people and elephants fighting in Sri Lanka?
Under The Radar Farmers encroaching into elephant habitats has led to deaths on both sides
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Indie film's 'very brief' use of AI sparks backlash and calls for boycotts
Talking Points Did the creators of a new horror movie make a deal with the artificial intelligence devil?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published