Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah recap Trump's India adventure, vegetarian challenge, Hindi word salad
President Trump arrived in India on Monday for a state visit, and Monday's Late Show noticed he had a little trouble pronouncing Indian names.
Trump's actually really popular in India, Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show. Some Indians "like him because of his anti-Muslim rhetoric, some like him because of his business savvy, and all of them like him because his skin looks like tikka masala."
"Clearly, India is trying to give Trump a memorable experience," Noah said. "There was, however, one tiny culture clash that Trump had to deal with" — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vegetarianism. "I honestly don't know what's stranger: the fact that Trump might eat vegetables, or that people are actually worried about how it will go," he said. And "despite the beef issue," Trump "even made an effort to show the Indian people how much he respects them by trying to speak their language."
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.
"After Trump butchered half the Hindi dictionary, Indian Twitter lost their minds," Noah said. "But to those Indians, I say: please don't be mad. Trump may not be able to pronounce Hindi words, but he can't pronounce English words, either."
Yes, "because he was in India, Trump had to prove that English isn't the only language he struggles with," Stephen Colbert said at The Late Show. But Trump also had to face the "challenge" of Modi's "plans to serve vegetarian food to the president. Oh my God, we're going to war with India!" Upon landing in India, Colbert said, "Trump's first stop was at the home of Mahatma Gandhi where he got the chance to spin a replica of the wheel that Gandhi used to make his own clothes. That's lovely — now he knows what it's like to work in one of Ivanka's factories."
Trump also visited the Taj Mahal on Monday — and described it "as too understated," James Corden joked at The Late Late Show. After the big rally, "local commentators said that Trump mispronounced the names of nearly every famous Indian official that he mentioned, as well as the name of the city was in," he added, laughing. "Basically, what you get from this is that every time Trump goes to an Indian restaurant, he just goes, 'Yeah, I'm gonna get that thing.'" Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - papal ideas, high-powered debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 sleeper hit cartoons about Trump's struggles to stay awake in court
Cartoons Artists take on courtroom tranquility, war on wokeness, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The true story of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
In depth The writer's fall from grace with his high-flying socialite friends in 1960s Manhattan is captured in a new Disney+ series
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
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