Barack Obama and Trevor Noah Have a Heart-to-Heart on
The coolest president of all time has entered the building. With just nine shows left at The Daily Show, Trevor Noah brought in none other than former president Barack Obama as a guest for an insightful conversation about the midterms and the importance of young-voter turnout, as well as a look into their uncle-nephew dynamic.
Noah has interviewed President Obama twice before on The Daily Show: once virtually during the pandemic to discuss Obamas memoir, A Promised Land, and then again for one of Obamas final interviews at the White House. But until yesterday, the 44th president of the United States had never been interviewed by Noah in studio at The Daily Show. Its no surprise, then, that a line wrapped around West 52nd Street to grab a free seat to watch the shows taping.
Barack Obama and Trevor Noah on The Daily Show.Courtesy of Comedy Central.
Before the cameras began rolling, Noah regaled the studio audience with a story about what its like to interact with Obama and how different the former president is from other world leaders. Generally, leaders of nations have a very stiff vibe to them, Noah said. I guess it comes with the job. Theres a certain respect you afford them.
He continued, The funny thing is, President Obama, hes loose and funny and hes got swag and everything, he continued. And then when hell talk to you hell make jokes and everything, and youll be all stiff. Noah then broke into his very accurate Obama impersonation, Trevor, whats going on. How it do, baby? causing the audience to break out into applause. But Noah said calibrating the level of reverence with the level of of casualness can be tricky when talking to a politician as cool as Obama.But if youre not careful, youll get carried away and be like, Youre damn straight Im doing well, he said, in perhaps too casual a tone. Noah then compared their relationship to one of a nephew and a cool uncle who talks trash with his nephews, but the trash talk only goes one way. Youll be like, Look at your haircut, and theyll say, Dont speak to your elders like that. Dont forget.
Obama demonstrated this dynamic when he came out onstage for his half-hour interview with Noah. After a lengthy standing ovation (I should have brought Michelle here. This is how Id like to be greeted when I come home), Noah dove in, Do you miss your name, by the way? Noah asked. Because everyone calls you Mr. President. If people called me Mr. Daily, I would miss Trevor.
My best friends call me Barack, the president replied. You should call me Mr. President.
Follow this link:
Barack Obama and Trevor Noah Have a Heart-to-Heart on