Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show

What this episode is about

A satirical look at the midterm political landscape, focusing on Trump’s campaign presence, the media’s line of questioning on inflation and the economy, and a provocative moment involving Nicki Minaj’s image as discussed on The Daily Show. It highlights public concerns about the economy, Iran, and political rhetoric, with a controversial joke about Trump’s physique.

Key takeaways

• Late-night framing: humor foregrounds chaos, but midterms hinge on economic anxieties Trump’s theatrics gloss over.
• Fox’s culture-war script vs. voter priorities: inflation, gas, and war fears dominate headlines, not slogans.
• Trump’s closing tactic: big-oil defense paired with discount-level promises—fluency in fear, not policy.
• Stand-up fodder crosses lines: gendered objects become political battlegrounds, revealing performative boundaries.
• If-logic exposed: empty conditional bets reveal the fragility of political promises when outcomes hinge on wins.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Jon Stewart (Host) · 12 min speaking
• Matthew Cole (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Donald Trump, Nicki Minaj, John Stewart, Midterm Elections
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Donald Trump, Midterm Elections, Islam, Islamophobia
3. 10:00 – 15:00: Donald Trump, CLETUS, NBC News, Barack Obama
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Donald Trump, Cheesecake Factory, Jalani Hussein, Barack Obama

Notable quotes from "Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show"

• Welcome to The Daily Show. My name IS JON STEWART.

  about John Stewart · at 0:00

• VOTERS ARE FOR SOME REASON fixated on the economy, cost of living, the war in Iran, and Donald Trump is actually back out there on the campaign trail to make his closing arguments.

  about Donald Trump · at 1:58

• By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful ass before. Nicki Minaj that's hard to miss.

  about Nicki Minaj · at 3:10

• Detector, every other hip would be setting So far, the Republican closing argument is nice asses and Islamophobia.

  about Islam · at 5:47

• SHE MARRIED A DUDE NAMED Cletus and thought, This'll work out.

  about CLETUS · at 10:39

• But you know what? Actually, I'm sure that Monica Alba of NBC News who asked the question would be happy to take on and explain to Donald Trump why.

  about NBC News · at 11:39

• BUT REMEMBER, REMEMBER, by the way, though, there are people running against the Republicans, and the Democrats brought out their closer, Barack Obama, to hit on Trump's misplaced priorities.

  about Barack Obama · at 14:53

• HIM SAY, You can feel it already. What a shitstorm this is going to set off on the right. For Barack Obama to compare anything that Trump does to the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein?

  about Jalani Hussein · at 15:46

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Donald Trump — Person · Main speaker / primary subject of critique · 10 mentions · first at 2:03
  Central figure in the episode; the host critiques his rhetoric, campaign messaging, and priorities ahead of the midterm elections.
• John Stewart — Person · Host · 1 mention · first at 0:00
  Host of The Daily Show; delivers monologue, frames critique of Trump and midterms, introduces guest.
• Barack Obama — Person · Referenced political surrogate (Democratic closer) · 3 mentions · first at 14:58
  Referenced as the Democratic Party's closer mobilizing voters against Trump's priorities; quoted for a joke comparing Trump's White House to Saddam Hussein and a Cheesecake Factory.
• Matthew Cole — Person · Guest (journalist / author) - introduced later · 1 mention · first at 0:09
  Introduced as a journalist and author of a book about Jared Kushner; slated as a guest for an interview segment.
  WE HAVE GOT A FABULOUS SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT. Later on, we are going to be talking to a journalist named Matthew Cole. He is the author of a new book on Jared Kushner called Princes and Thieves.
• Jared Kushner — Person · Referenced subject (book topic) · 1 mention · first at 0:14
  Mentioned as the subject of Matthew Cole's upcoming book; part of the episode's guest introduction.
  TONIGHT. Later on, we are going to be talking to a journalist named Matthew Cole. He is the author of a new book on Jared Kushner called Princes and Thieves.
• Jalani Hussein — Person · Comparative reference / rhetorical device · 3 mentions · first at 15:18
  Used by Barack Obama (as quoted) in a joke comparing Trump's White House decorations to a brutal dictatorship; referenced to illustrate the potency of political ridicule.
• Nicki Minaj — Person · Pop-culture reference / comedic target · 2 mentions · first at 3:11
  Referenced in a comedic anecdote about Trump's behavior and ogling; used to lampoon Trump's distractions while campaigning.
• Tom Cruise — Person · Brief pop-culture reference · 1 mention · first at 6:30
  Mentioned once as a cultural reference in the monologue (no substantive role).
  So I was told by the writers that his fit is drippy.

Books & papers

• Princes and Thieves — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at 0:16
  Identified as the new book by Matthew Cole about Jared Kushner; used to introduce the guest segment.
  TONIGHT. Later on, we are going to be talking to a journalist named Matthew Cole. He is the author of a new book on Jared Kushner called Princes and Thieves.

Companies & orgs

• Fox News — Company · Referenced media outlet / case study · 1 mention · first at 0:57
  Used as example of conservative media on the campaign trail; source of vox-pop interviews with voters used by Stewart to critique Republican messaging.
  Detector, every other hip would be setting So far, the Republican closing argument is nice asses and Islamophobia.
• Exxon — Company · Referenced company / anecdotal experience · 1 mention · first at 6:20
  Mentioned by Stewart when discussing oil company profits and gas prices; used to underline the critique of big oil making large profits while consumers suffer.
  The United States oil and gas business is making hundreds of billions of dollars.
• NBC News — Company · Referenced media outlet / questioner · 2 mentions · first at 11:41
  Mentioned as the employer of a reporter (Monica Alba) who asked Trump a question; used to illustrate hostile press exchanges.

Concepts & topics

• Islam — Concept · Target of political rhetoric / subject of critique · 2 mentions · first at 4:46
  Referenced in context of Trump's campaign rhetoric and the episode's critique of Islamophobic messaging used by some Republican candidates.
• Islamophobia — Concept · Key criticism · 1 mention · first at 5:55
  Named as a tactic used in Republican messaging during the campaign; Stewart condemns Islamophobic appeals to voters.
  Detector, every other hip would be setting So far, the Republican closing argument is nice asses and Islamophobia.

Places & events

• Midterm Elections — Event · Core topic · 3 mentions · first at 0:35
  Central political event framing the episode: host analyzes campaign messaging, voter concerns, and closing arguments by Republicans and Democrats.
  BUT FIRST THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THEY WILL determine if Americans care in any way.
• Cheesecake Factory — Place · Comparative reference / cultural touchpoint · 3 mentions · first at 15:18
  Used in a joke comparing Trump's decor to Saddam Hussein opening a Cheesecake Factory; serves as a relatable, comedic image criticized by Stewart.
  He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a cheesecake factory.

Media & podcasts

• CLETUS — Character · Example / comedic anecdote character · 2 mentions · first at 10:29
  Used in a comedic recounting of Vivek Ramaswamy's ad and the absurdity of campaign attacks; functions as a punchline in the monologue.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 Welcome to The Daily Show. My name IS JON STEWART. UH WE HAVE GOT A FABULOUS SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT. Later on, we are going to be talking to uh a journalist named Matthew Cole. He is the author of a new book on Jared Kushner called Princes and Thieves. I I can't wait to find out which ONE JARED IS.

0:29 BUT FIRST BUT FIRST THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THEY WILL determine if Americans care in any way

0:44 about the reckless show of an administration that we've all been subjected to low these past almost 2 years. Midterms will take place in 8 days. And Fox News was on the campaign trail ready to hear from their base about those firing culture war issues that are Trump and Fox's bread and butter.

1:08 What are you expecting the president to say and what are some of the issues that you are looking uh to this election cycle?

1:14 Uh I'm hoping to see some relief about the war, um some inflation come down, interest rates come down, uh just some sustainability when I'm you know shopping and getting gas for my truck, things like that. It's just absurd pricing right now. So, I'm just hoping to see some relief in the economy.

1:31 Well, absolutely. Hold on. I think I think in the script it said trans. I THINK IT SAID TRANS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT GUY WAS TO CUT AWAY. WE GOT OURSELVES A READER.

1:56 ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. VOTERS ARE FOR SOME REASON fixated on the economy, cost of living, the war in Iran, and Donald Trump is actually back out there on the campaign trail to make his closing arguments. I imagine the president will be laser-focused on the issues that matter most.

2:15 I looked at his ass and I've never done that with a man before. A man's ass is ass the ass. His ass was like a big piece of muscle.

2:33 His ass was like a big piece of muscle, you said? Yeah. It's not like a big piece of muscle. It is literally a big piece of muscle. That is what an ass is. Gluteus maximus. You don't need to put a simile. Oh, it's like A BIG MUSCLE. HIS DICK WAS LIKE A SEXUAL ORGAN. THAT BECOMES TOO MASSIVE TO PUT on excitation. No, IT'S THAT IS EXACTLY what it is. And by the way, by the way, don't feel left out, ladies.

3:07 Trump's got plenty of ogle left for you. By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful ass before. Nicki Minaj that that's hard to miss.

3:18 That stand up, Nicki. THAT'S HARD TO MISS. HOW THE IS THIS REAL? STAND UP, NICKI. TWIRL AROUND. GIVE US A LOOK AT IT. TALK ABOUT INFLATION. MY GOD. WOO. HEY.

3:51 OH. OH. GET UP, BILL. LET ME TOSS THAT SALAD. Come on. By the way, look at Trump's face when Minaj is talking. Look at what he's doing. Look at him. He's transfixed. He's staring at her ass. He's like He's like Yogi Bear floating towards a pie on a window sill. Look at that ass, Boo Boo. I know. That is something. But all right, I'm sorry. That was a distraction. Donald Trump, you're in Michigan. Are you there to offer a plan for some economic relief to the state that's been devastated by your tariffs? I'm here to keep A JIHADIST MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD MEMBER FROM BECOMING A UNITED STATES SENATOR.

4:53 OH, OH, I CAN'T [screaming] HE'S PLAYING SCARY MUSLIM FROM 2016. OH, OH, SCARY MUSLIM. YEAH. WOO. WOO. I LOVE THE HITS. DO SHARIA LAW. Abdul Mohammed Al-Sayed. He wants our country to go to Sharia law. He would be the only Senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate. I want him to have a metal detector.

5:35 He's such a good dude. By the way, it is actually true for those of you who don't know. The Senate The House has metal detectors. The Senate does not have metal detectors. Uh I guess because if they had a metal detector, every other hip would be setting So far, the Republican closing argument is nice asses and Islamophobia. Are you guys in any way going to address Chad's gas prices for his truck?

6:07 The United States oil and gas business is making hundreds of billions of dollars.

6:16 Okay. I bet they are. I thought that was the case when I recently went to Exxon.

6:30 So I was told by the writers that his fit is drippy. Why would you say that AT A RAP WHY THE WOULD YOUR CLOSING MESSAGE for the midterms be, "I know you're hurting, but these guys are killing it."

6:53 We're making hundreds and hundreds of billions, trillions of dollars. But my people said, "Please don't mention that, sir, cuz people are paying a little higher." I could just see the fake headlines. President Trump is talking about all the money they're making while people are suffering at the pump. That'll be the headline.

7:22 It It It is what you said. That would be accurately summarizing your quote. So the closing argument for the Republicans appears to be, "I like big butts. And why can't you just be happy for big oil?

7:45 So you you clearly don't seem to be able to run on a positive record. What else you got?

7:51 If you elect a Republican House and a Republican Senate on November 3rd, you'll get $5,000 and if you lose you get nothing. If the Republicans win the Department of War we'll be investing a hundred million dollars, but you have to win and the other way is forget it. We're also fighting for our great veterans and taking care of those veterans who brought claims related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. If we win the House and the Senate, I am directing the Department of Justice to settle all remaining legitimate claims as soon as possible.

8:28 I couldn't help but notice the word if. If Republicans win the House and Senate, you'll settle the claims. But look, even Donald Trump wouldn't have the balls to do a quid pro quo on sick veterans saying if we don't win, there's no money. Right?

8:52 So if we don't win, THERE'S NO MONEY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE IS EVIL. And then there is evil that can only be described as cartoonish. A kind of tie a helpless maiden to a railroad track Looney Tunes villainy. Like you're making policy using a cartoonishly evil random word generator and told it to find the most cartoonishly evil phrase the president could say. Right. But you know what? I shouldn't be surprised at the depth that they are sinking to. Because we all remember last week, Vivek Ramaswamy released an ad in the Ohio governor's race where his opponent, Amy Acton's mother came out vociferously against her own daughter.

9:55 She is a liar. What? Well, that could be a compelling ad if it weren't for just a couple of mitigating factors. For instance, Acton's mother hasn't spoken to her daughter in 50 years. And the reason is oh, cartoonishly evil word generator. She lost custody of her kids because her husband at the time was indicted for raping her daughter. And her husband's name, by the way, WAS CLETUS.

10:44 SHE MARRIED A DUDE NAMED Cletus and thought, "This'll work out." And while Cletus was indicted for the crime and could have faced uh and played his innocence and let the justice system work its way, instead mother and Cletus CLETUS

11:11 CLETUS THE STATE IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT. IT'S hard to defend but not impossible.

11:25 A mother is saying, "Don't put my daughter there because she's a a person and she's a liar. Why shouldn't somebody use that?

11:37 I think we explained pretty well why. But you know what? Actually, I'm sure that Monica Alba of NBC News who asked the question would be happy to take on and explain to Donald Trump why.

11:50 Why shouldn't somebody use that? is the sexual abuse allegation against him. my mother said Steve

11:56 sexual abuse allegations against him. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Who are you with? Who are you with? Who are you with?

12:01 I'm with NBC, sir. The one of the worst networks you have. have been very serious sexual abuse allegations

12:08 They make serious allegations against you. Isn't she a fresh person? You're a horrible little reporter, aren't you?

12:19 YOU'RE A FRESH, HORRIBLE LITTLE REPORTER, AREN'T YOU? FOR YOU'RE FRESH? YOU'RE A FRESH, horrible little When did Donald Trump become Miss Hannigan? What the ARE WE DOING? YOU'RE A FRESH, HORRIBLE LITTLE REPORTER. YOU'LL NEVER GET ADOPTED BY A NEWS AGENCY.

12:40 IF MY MOTHER said bad things about me, do you think the Democrats would put it up? I think so. But my mother thought I was wonderful. Thank you, Mom.

12:55 Thank you, [screaming] MOM. YOU TOO, DAD. YOU YOU TOO. YOU TOO, DAD. IS THE IS THE HOUSING DOWN THERE ALL WHITE LIKE YOU LIKE IT OR NO?

13:17 THE POINT IS TRUMP, RAMASWAMY, and J.D. Vance all doubled down and sided with a woman who had done one of the most awfully evil things anybody, let alone the parent of the child, could ever do. But hey, anything else that we need to know about Amy Acton's mother? Cartoonishly evil random word generator, you got anything FOR US? WHAT?

13:53 OKAY. I MEAN, IF THAT WERE TRUE, it would only make Trump promise one man advance look even more ridiculous than they already look.

14:03 Acton's mother was also convicted of killing kittens, according to court records from 2021.

14:21 All right, I'm just going to let you guys in on a little something. Um, we did have a little bit of a talk earlier in the production meeting about whether the comedy show we make uh should follow the sexual assault bit uh with the KITTEN KILLING BIT.

14:39 AND UH UH WE WENT WITH YES. ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

14:53 BUT REMEMBER, REMEMBER, by the way, though, there are people running against the Republicans, and the Democrats brought out their closer, Barack Obama, to hit on Trump's misplaced priorities.

15:03 I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovations. There's gold everywhere. What's up with the gold? I I everything that more gold. He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a cheesecake factory. OH!

15:28 BARACK OBAMA WITH AN ILLEGAL JOKE STRIKE ON AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. FROM ABOVE. I GOT TO TELL YOU, AS SOON AS I HEARD HIM SAY, "You can feel it already." What a shitstorm this is going to set off on the right. For Barack Obama to compare anything that Trump does to the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein?

16:01 I think the most difficult part of what we just went over is the Cheesecake Factory.

16:05 Where did that come from? Like, why Cheesecake Factory? He thinks that it's appropriate to condescend to a popular food chain restaurant.

16:11 Looking down his nose at a Cheesecake Factory in front of a group of working-class people.

16:16 I think about all the birthday parties that people have at the Cheesecake Factory.

16:20 My family included. The part of the comparison that bothered you was the Cheesecake Factory part. Not the Saddam Hussein part. The cheese You know, the Cheesecake Factory is not an actual factory, right? YOU KNOW THAT. WE DO NOT SHIP CHEESECAKE jobs to China. What a slap IN THE FACE TO HARDWORKING Americans on the cheesecake assembly lines.

16:58 MY PEOPLE LOST HIS HAND making their skinnylicious avocado tacos and sweet soy-glazed ribs. I I I know those because I also eat them.

17:14 Here's what makes this It's so maddening. See, there's a reason why Donald Trump and anyone representing his Republican Congress are distracting you with asses and evil commercials and Because Republicans running for Congress can't defend Trump's reckless record or their refusal to do anything to check his worst impulses. Do you know when Trump ran in 2024, do you remember what his message was?

17:43 Kamala is for they, them. President Trump is for you. All right. He was for you. But Trump never really told you who you was, did he? Cuz my guess is given the state of our economy you might have foolishly thought that you meant you. The people. But after two years in office, it's clear who you turned out to be. You was actually them. Yeah. BILLIONAIRES LIKE ELON MUSK, THEY'VE DONE GREAT. He was recently promoted to trillionaire. Jeff Bezos was recently promoted to sex sex cowboy? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

18:31 BUT IT'S GOOD. AND OTHERS HAVE DONE WELL. I mean, are any of these people you? Cuz they're killing it. Oh, sorry, Kim. Not you anymore. Memecoins,

18:50 Pentagon contracts, documentaries, Middle East oil money. And by the way, Trump's family aren't the only yous. The Trump administration has treated inanimate objects more lavishly than the you he swore to represent. Turns out the you isn't it. I mean, obviously there were plenty of yous that he was never going to be for. Like, if you were a Muslim named Mohammed. Well, I'm sorry, unless this is you. And he has lots of nuclear deals and weapons. By the way, your highness, thank you for your investment in Skydance.

19:44 WE'LL MAKE YOU PROUD. SO, THIS MIDTERMS, WHEN YOU go to the polls, and I beg of you, go to the polls. Remember all the yous Donald Trump turned out to be for. And if it turns out that you are not one of them, well, he probably has a very different closing message for you.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show"?

Jon Stewart (Host), Matthew Cole (Guest).

What is "Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show" about?

A satirical look at the midterm political landscape, focusing on Trump’s campaign presence, the media’s line of questioning on inflation and the economy, and a provocative moment involving Nicki Minaj’s image as discussed on The Daily Show. It highlights public concerns about the economy, Iran, and political rhetoric, with a controversial joke about Trump’s physique.

What is mentioned in this The Daily Show episode?

17 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, John Stewart, Midterm Elections, Islam, Islamophobia, Barack Obama. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show"?

The episode runs 20 min; the transcript is about 2,481 words in 54 timestamped sections.

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