Trevor Noah dissects the link between Trump's words and the recent spate of domestic terrorism

Trevor Noah on Trump inspiring hate crimes
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Daily Show)

"When we came down to Miami, there was a part of us that thought we were going to take a vacation from the news," Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show, on tour in Florida, "But then the news followed us here." He was specifically referring to the capture and arrest of alleged package-bomber and uber "Florida man" Cesar Sayoc.

So the FBI arrested Sayoc, "but the question remained: What drove him?" Noah said. "And to find out, we had to find out what he drove." Looking at Sayoc's white van, covered with stickers lauding President Trump and targeting (literally) the people and organizations Trump criticizes, with signature Trump lines like "Lock Her Up," "fake news," and "CNN Sucks," it's pretty clear "this guy was inspired by Trump," he said. "But according to Trump and his people, this is nothing to do with him."

Noah wasn't buying that argument, but even if you did, Trump's continued attacks on the press shows "you either want to encourage violence or you don't care." Look, he said, "if the president of the United States calls someone the 'Enemy of the People,' don't be shocked when the people go after that enemy." He suggested Trump use a less violence-inducing alternative to "enemy," like "poopyhead."

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In between scenes, Noah roped in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter and the double murder and attempted mass shooting in a Kentucky black church. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to draw the lines between these people and the rhetoric that is being parroted by the president of the United States right now," Noah said. But instead of changing his message, Trump is demanding that the media report only news he likes and America come together, but only under his rules. "That's what he preaches when he preaches unity," Noah said. "Trump's not saying 'Let's come together,' he's like, let's come together in the same way aliens come to Earth and they're like, 'Let's come together as we pillage the entire Earth.'" Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

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.