When Michelle Wolf was announced as the comedian hosting the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner, many responded “who?” After last night’s gripping 20-minute performance, that's no longer a question. As only the fifth woman to ever host a WHCD, Wolf shredded her subjects with no remorse, dragged everyone from Donald Trump and his administration to CNN, and made it clear that as a Washington outsider she had no loyalties and no plans to leave anyone unroasted.
Wolf went to WHCD and roasted the hell out of Washington—and generate enough buzz for her Netflix series The Break with Michelle Wolf which comes out next month on May 27. Some people got their panties in a twist over the performance—including CNN, Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC, and Sean Spicer—but who cares? The Daily Show comic doesn’t need to be called “unapologetic” because there’s nothing to apologize for; no one asked Hasan Minhaj to say sorry.
When Michelle Wolf was announced as the comedian hosting the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner, many responded “who?” After last night’s gripping 20-minute performance, that's no longer a question. As only the fifth woman to ever host a WHCD, Wolf shredded her subjects with no remorse, dragged everyone from Donald Trump and his administration to CNN, and made it clear that as a Washington outsider she had no loyalties and no plans to leave anyone unroasted.
Wolf went to WHCD and roasted the hell out of Washington—and generate enough buzz for her Netflix series The Break with Michelle Wolf which comes out next month on May 27. Some people got their panties in a twist over the performance—including CNN, Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC, and Sean Spicer—but who cares? The Daily Show comic doesn’t need to be called “unapologetic” because there’s nothing to apologize for; no one asked Hasan Minhaj to say sorry.
Anyway, here are some of Wolf’s best and most controversial jokes. No matter how you feel about her performance last night, she's been the center of Sunday’s TV news cycle, and definitely got people talking.
"What’s Uncle Tom but for white women who disappoint other white women? Oh, I know, Aunt Coulter."
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the infamous mouthpiece of a deceptive administration, and Wolf wasted no time zeroing in on her lies. It's hard to be sympathetic thinking about all the times Sanders has been complicit in Trump’s campaign to tear apart families, attack the free press, and encourage violence against people of color.
"The most useful information on CNN is when Anthony Bourdain tells me where to eat noodles.”
Wolf took down the press, but specifically zeroed in CNN. She gave the entire industry a healthy serving of criticism, pointing out the fact that the news industry is profiting off of Trump: "He has helped you sell your papers and your books and your TV. You helped create this monster and now you are profiting from him."
"He thinks abortion is murder which, first of all, don't knock it 'til you try it."
There were plenty of Mike Pence jokes to go around during the WHCD. “Mike Pence is what happens when Anderson Cooper isn’t gay,” Wolf said, as the camera cut to Don Lemon hardly able to keep his composure. But the abortion jab was really toeing the line. "And when you do try it, really knock it," she continues, deadpanning. "You know, you've got to get that baby out of there."
“Mitch McConnell isn’t here tonight. He had a prior engagement. He’s finally getting his neck circumcised."
Honestly there wasn’t much political substance to this one, it’s just funny because there’s no way that’s actually a human neck.
"We now know Mika and Joe are engaged. Congratulations, you guys. It’s like when a #MeToo works out.”
As a woman comedian, Wolf’s jokes about the #MeToo movement were expected. “It’s probably the reason I’m here," she said. "They were like, ‘A woman’s probably not going to jerk off in front of anyone, right?’ And to that I say: Don’t count your chickens.” But this one about Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough from MSNBC's Morning Joe definitely stung.
Trump’s Racism, Wealth, and P*ssy
It's no surprise that Donald Trump was the target of a large portion of the jokes of on Saturday night. Some of Wolf’s best attacked his wealth, his history of sympathizing with white supremacists, and, of course, grabbing women by the pussy.
“Mr. President, I don’t think you’re very rich. I think you might be rich in Idaho, but in New York you’re doing fine.”
“Trump is racist, though. He loves white nationalists, which is a weird term for a Nazi. Calling a Nazi a ‘white nationalist’ is like calling a pedophile a ‘kid friend,’ or Harvey Weinstein a ‘ladies' man,’ which isn’t really fair—he also likes plants.”
“Of course, Trump isn’t here, if you haven’t noticed. He’s not here. And I know, I know, I would drag him here myself, but it turns out the President of the United States is the one p*ssy you’re not allowed to grab.”
“Ten years too young to host this event and 20 years too old for Roy Moore."
Wolf reminded everyone that an alleged pedophile was almost voted into our government with a fun joke about being a 32-year-old. This one was followed by a chorus of groans.
“Flint still doesn’t have clean water."
Wolf ended the night on a serious note that few people seem to be paying much attention to. It’s much easier to attack the comedian for going after Sanders' smoky eye than acknowledge that there are bigger things to worry about than some harsh jokes—like I don’t know, Flint’s water crisis. Wolf gave the reminder before leaving the podium.