John Oliver Warns Against the Blame Game Following Kamala Harris’ Election Loss
In the wake of Kamala Harris’ presidential election defeat last Tuesday, many frustrated voters have turned their ire toward the Democratic Party’s campaign strategy. Critics argue the party misstepped by prioritizing celebrity endorsements, overemphasizing social issues like abortion rights instead of addressing economic concerns, and neglecting key voter demographics, including young men.
However, John Oliver has urged caution, asking people to resist rushing to conclusions. “It’s too early to have a definitive answer to [why Harris lost], but that hasn’t stopped people from taking some big swings anyway,” the comedian remarked during his first post-election episode.
“Fingers are being pointed everywhere, from Latino voters to young men to Joe Rogan,” Oliver continued. “It’s like playing your own version of ‘Wheel of Blame’—and conveniently landing on whoever you were already mad at. Honestly, I get it. Blaming people is fun. Trump was just re-elected on a platform of doing exactly that.”
Oliver added a humorous twist by poking fun at an unlikely scapegoat: Katy Perry.
“I’d personally like to believe everything that happened is Katy Perry’s fault,” Oliver joked, referencing the singer’s performance at Harris’ final rally, where she sang three of her songs before covering Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All. “Why would you even try to cover Whitney Houston?”
Turning to Trump’s re-election, Oliver discussed the controversial figures being floated for key roles in the new administration, including Elon Musk. Trump has hinted at appointing Musk to lead a proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” tasked with streamlining bureaucracy.
Oliver, however, wasn’t too concerned about Musk’s potential involvement. “I don’t see him combing through the federal budget line by line,” he quipped.
Wrapping up the episode, Oliver reflected on the emotional toll of the election, admitting he’s currently in the “anger” stage of grief—particularly for marginalized communities like immigrants, trans people, and women, who face heightened threats under a Trump presidency.
“But don’t let despair consume you,” he urged viewers. “Despair doesn’t help anything. If anything, it makes things worse.”