John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, didn’t mince words when addressing the recent vice presidential debate featuring Republican J.D. Vance. In his signature opening segment on Sunday, Oliver argued that the widespread praise for the debate’s “civility” completely missed the crucial point: the disturbing substance of what was actually discussed. He honed in on Vance’s participation, highlighting his connection to far-right figures and his continued refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 election. For Oliver, focusing on politeness while ignoring these critical issues is akin to admiring the handwriting on a ransom note, a darkly humorous analogy that underscored his dismay.
Oliver began by playing clips from various news outlets and commentators who lauded the debate for its civil and polite tone, suggesting it was a refreshing change of pace and “what the country has been saying they want more of.” However, Oliver sharply retorted, “On the list of things America’s been saying it wants more of, civility is at best No. 6, after affordable health care, gun control, cheaper housing, reproductive rights and starring vehicles for Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan.” This witty juxtaposition immediately set the tone for his critique, emphasizing that substantive policy issues far outweigh superficial decorum in importance. He pointed out the inherent absurdity of prioritizing etiquette when the debate itself included discussions on serious topics like mass deportations and women’s reproductive rights, issues with profound real-world consequences.
Oliver then shifted his focus to J.D. Vance specifically, drawing attention to Vance’s participation in an event called the “Courage Tour” just days after the debate. This tour was hosted by Lance Wallnau, whom Oliver identified as a “prominent far-right Christian nationalist.” Oliver played a clip of Wallnau making alarming statements, including accusations that Kamala Harris has used “witchcraft” and is influenced by an “occult spirit.” With characteristic sarcasm, Oliver quipped, “First, Kamala Harris isn’t the one who’s been relentlessly promoting witchcraft. You’re thinking of Universal’s marketing department,” followed by a visual gag featuring the movie Wicked. He further mocked Wallnau’s credibility by suggesting he belonged in “a tent in 1856 selling children mercury tonics that he claims will let them talk to ghosts,” effectively dismantling Wallnau’s pronouncements as baseless and absurd. This segment served to highlight Vance’s association with extremist figures and ideologies, casting a shadow over any perceived “civility” displayed during the debate.
Oliver didn’t stop there. He played another clip of Wallnau recounting an anecdote where God supposedly intervened to reroute Vance’s travel plans due to a hurricane, allowing him to appear in Pittsburgh. Wallnau presented this as a “direct act of God,” stating, “Pittsburgh wasn’t even on the map. It was supposed to be North Carolina, and God switched it that fast.” Oliver’s response was blunt and cutting: “If you believe in a God who’d unleash a devastating hurricane just so J.D. Vance could spend an afternoon outside Pittsburgh, your God sounds like an asshole.” This sharp retort not only ridiculed Wallnau’s outlandish claims but also implicitly criticized Vance for aligning himself with such rhetoric.
The Last Week Tonight segment then turned to Vance’s stance on the 2020 election, a crucial point of contention. Oliver played an exchange between Vance and his debate opponent, Tim Walz, where Walz directly asked Vance, “Did [Trump] lose the 2020 election?” Vance’s response was a blatant dodge: “Tim, I’m focused on the future.” Walz aptly labeled this a “damning non-answer.” Oliver echoed this sentiment, calling Vance’s deflection “one of the most generic store-brand fuck-boy deflections.” He emphasized the gravity of Vance’s evasion, particularly in light of recent developments, referencing the unsealing of a brief in the election fraud case against Trump. This brief detailed Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results, including a White House staffer’s testimony about Trump’s insistence on fighting despite losing.
Oliver concluded by underscoring the danger of Vance’s position. “It super matters if you lost. It’s kind of the main thing that matters,” Oliver stated, highlighting the fundamental importance of accepting election outcomes in a democracy. He warned that if Trump loses the upcoming election, “there is every reason to believe Trump will dispute the results again. And Vance has made it clear, he’s got no problem with that and that alone should be disqualifying.” Oliver’s final assessment was scathing, dismissing the focus on Vance’s debate “civility” as a distraction. He asserted, “Deep down, he’s the same colossal dipshit who spews right-wing hate with distressing ease and continues to defend the big lie that the last election was stolen.” In essence, John Oliver’s commentary served as a powerful reminder that genuine political discourse should prioritize truth and substantive issues over mere politeness, especially when figures like JD Vance continue to align themselves with election denial and far-right extremism.
