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Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Theo Von Mocks Navy, Qatari Culture in Trump Warm-Up Speech for Troops
During a visit to al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday, President Donald Trump delivered a politically charged speech to U.S. and Qatari troops, declaring, "We don't care if you're politically correct." That sentiment had already been on full display earlier in the day, courtesy of a comedy performance by podcast host and stand-up comedian Theo Von. Von, wearing a black T-shirt and a backward baseball cap, took the stage before Trump and delivered a routine that included jokes about drugs, disabilities, homosexuality, terrorism and Qatari culture. Among the most provocative moments, Von described snorting cocaine off a mixed-race baby's back, mimicked various disabilities including Down syndrome, labeled the U.S. Navy "gay," and asked the audience, "Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?" He also mocked Qatar's traditional dress, joking that locals resemble a "Ku Klux Sandsman." His set drew both laughter and groans from the crowd, which included U.S. and Qatari troops and a small group of reporters. There was no official response from the Qatari government. Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Thursday afternoon for comment. Trump was not present for Von's routine but praised him later during his speech, citing his son Barron's recommendation. "Dad, you've got to do an interview with a guy named Theo Von," Trump recalled. "I said, 'Who the hell is Theo Von?'" During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump appeared on Von's podcast "This Past Weekend," a top-rated show among young male listeners and a key platform in the so-called "manosphere," a subculture of hyper-masculine media figures who challenge political correctness and cancel culture. One night earlier, Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, with her husband, Jared Kushner, accompanied by Von in Miami. She posted, Miami looked good on you @TheoVon! Come back and visit us soon !" The president's address was characteristically freewheeling. He joked about people urging him to run for an additional term, falsely claimed to have won three presidential elections, and mocked France by saying they'd be "speaking German" without American intervention in World War II. He also said his administration had "let a lot of four-stars go," a reference to his ongoing tensions with the military's top brass. Trump emphasized his role in reshaping the military command and touted his first-term campaign against ISIS, dismissing critics of his military strategies as "freaking losers." He ended his remarks with a dance to the Village People's "YMCA," a regular feature of his campaign rallies. Von's act continued a pattern of provocative pre-show performances at Trump events. In 2024, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe drew backlash for referring to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage" during a rally in New York. The rise of edgy, anti-woke entertainers like Von highlights a broader strategy in Trump's political messaging-leveraging pop culture voices who resonate with disaffected or younger male voters. Von, 45, has built a significant following with his irreverent style, attracting guests from across the political and cultural spectrum. His brand of humor, however, has drawn criticism for pushing boundaries that many consider offensive or harmful, particularly when performed in sensitive geopolitical contexts like a military base in the Middle East. This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available. This article includes reporting by the Associated Press. Related Articles Donald Trump Ukraine Peace Plan Stonewalled by PutinKamala Harris Would Beat Donald Trump if Election Held Again: PollPanama Asks Trump to Clean Up Mess Left From Biden-Era Migration SurgeSupreme Court's Neil Gorsuch Praises Liberal Justice's Question in Hearing 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Boston Globe
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Theo Von riffs on drugs, disabilities, and homosexuality before Trump speaks at US base in Qatar
He talked about snorting cocaine off a baby's back but said it was 'a mixed baby' so the white powder was visible on the baby's skin. Von acted out various disabilities, including Down syndrome, and he insulted the U.S. Navy as 'gay.' He also had a punchline about terrorism attacks, asking, 'Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it would be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. They were like a 'Ku Klux Sandsman,' Von said. Advertisement He later pointed to the Qatari troops in the audience and said 'they don't like me.' The jokes drew laughter and some groans from the service members at the base, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. There was no acknowledgment from Qatar about the comedy routine and its topics. U.S. and Qatari service members and a small number of journalists following Trump heard the set, which was also available to American television networks. Advertisement The wealthy Gulf nations that Trump has visited have increasingly welcomed a burgeoning standup scene at home and acts from abroad as they promote themselves as global entertainment destinations, and there are fewer red lines than one might expect in the socially conservative region. When Russell Peters performed in Saudi Arabia and Dave Chappelle in Abu Dhabi last year, both told a number of sexually explicit jokes and playfully mocked aspects of local culture, like the heavy reliance on foreign workers. The only no-go zones appear to be criticism of Islam or the countries' autocratic rulers. 'You can't talk about the royals, and you can't talk about religion,' comedian Tom Segura said on his podcast last year, describing restrictions imposed on a comedy tour he made to the United Arab Emirates. Von connected with Trump during last year's presidential campaign, hosting the Republican candidate for an extended conversation that helped him reach young male voters who were important to his victory. Trump wasn't present for Von's routine at the al-Udeid Air Base, which houses about 8,000 troops. When Trump took the stage in a hangar on the Qatari side of the installation, he praised Von and talked about how his son Barron encouraged him to sit down with the comedian. 'Dad, you've got to do an interview with a guy named Theo Von,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Who the hell is Theo Von?'' 'We had a good time,' he added. This isn't the first time a warm-up act has stirred controversy for Trump. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage' during a Madison Square Garden rally near the end of the campaign. Advertisement Trump delivered his own free-wheeling remarks during Thursday's event, telling the troops that 'I have nothing else to do, so let's have a little fun.' He talked about plans for an upcoming military parade in Washington, falsely said that he won three presidential elections, joked about people who want him to run for another term and said France would be 'speaking German' if it wasn't for American help during World War II. Trump talked about his administration's efforts to thin the military's top ranks, saying 'we let a lot of four-stars go.' There's long been friction between Trump and some top generals, and he's been more emboldened to remake the command structure. He described people who doubted his military instincts as 'freaking losers,' talking up the campaign against the Islamic State group in his first term. Trump ended his speech in his customary way, dancing to his campaign anthem of 'YMCA.' Von's 'This Past Weekend' is the fifth-most-popular podcast in the U.S. among weekly podcast listeners age 13 or older, according to recent rankings from Edison Podcast Metrics. The mullet-sporting 45-year-old is one of the burgeoning voices of the so-called manosphere, a rising online community of hyper-masculine influencers and comedians who rebuff cancel culture and offer crudeness in its place. Von has interviewed people across the political spectrum and in industries from artificial intelligence to entertainment and sports. Megerian reported from Washington. AP writer Joseph Krauss contributed to this report.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Theo Von riffs on drugs, disabilities and homosexuality before Trump speaks at US base in Qatar
AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — When President Donald Trump addressed U.S. and Qatari troops at a military base in Qatar on Thursday, he assured the rank and file that 'we don't care if you're politically correct.' Anyone needing proof of that could have watched comedian Theo Von's routine just a little earlier. Wearing a black T-shirt and backward baseball cap, the podcast host regaled the uniformed troops with jokes about drugs, developmental disabilities, homosexuality and their Qatari hosts. He talked about snorting cocaine off a baby's back but said it was 'a mixed baby' so the white powder was visible on the baby's skin. Von acted out various disabilities, including Down syndrome, and he insulted the U.S. Navy as 'gay.' He also had a punchline about terrorism attacks, asking, 'Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?' He joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it would be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. They were like a 'Ku Klux Sandsman," Von said. He later pointed to the Qatari troops in the audience and said 'they don't like me.' The jokes drew laughter and some groans from the service members at the base, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. There was no acknowledgment from Qatar about the comedy routine and its topics. U.S. and Qatari service members and a small number of journalists following Trump heard the set, which was also available to American television networks. The wealthy Gulf nations that Trump has visited have increasingly welcomed a burgeoning standup scene at home and acts from abroad as they promote themselves as global entertainment destinations, and there are fewer red lines than one might expect in the socially conservative region. When Russell Peters performed in Saudi Arabia and Dave Chappelle in Abu Dhabi last year, both told a number of sexually explicit jokes and playfully mocked aspects of local culture, like the heavy reliance on foreign workers. The only no-go zones appear to be criticism of Islam or the countries' autocratic rulers. 'You can't talk about the royals, and you can't talk about religion,' comedian Tom Segura said on his podcast last year, describing restrictions imposed on a comedy tour he made to the United Arab Emirates. Von connected with Trump during last year's presidential campaign, hosting the Republican candidate for an extended conversation that helped him reach young male voters who were important to his victory. Trump wasn't present for Von's routine at the al-Udeid Air Base, which houses about 8,000 troops. When Trump took the stage in a hangar on the Qatari side of the installation, he praised Von and talked about how his son Barron encouraged him to sit down with the comedian. 'Dad, you've got to do an interview with a guy named Theo Von,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Who the hell is Theo Von?'' 'We had a good time,' he added. This isn't the first time a warm-up act has stirred controversy for Trump. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage' during a Madison Square Garden rally near the end of the campaign. Trump delivered his own free-wheeling remarks during Thursday's event, telling the troops that 'I have nothing else to do, so let's have a little fun.' He talked about plans for an upcoming military parade in Washington, falsely said that he won three presidential elections, joked about people who want him to run for another term and said France would be 'speaking German' if it wasn't for American help during World War II. Trump talked about his administration's efforts to thin the military's top ranks, saying 'we let a lot of four-stars go.' There's long been friction between Trump and some top generals, and he's been more emboldened to remake the command structure. He described people who doubted his military instincts as 'freaking losers,' talking up the campaign against the Islamic State group in his first term. Trump ended his speech in his customary way, dancing to his campaign anthem of 'YMCA.' Von's 'This Past Weekend' is the fifth-most-popular podcast in the U.S. among weekly podcast listeners age 13 or older, according to recent rankings from Edison Podcast Metrics. The mullet-sporting 45-year-old is one of the burgeoning voices of the so-called manosphere, a rising online community of hyper-masculine influencers and comedians who rebuff cancel culture and offer crudeness in its place. Von has interviewed people across the political spectrum and in industries from artificial intelligence to entertainment and sports.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theo Von riffs on drugs, disabilities and homosexuality before Trump speaks at US base in Qatar
AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — When President Donald Trump addressed U.S. and Qatari troops at a military base in Qatar on Thursday, he assured the rank and file that 'we don't care if you're politically correct.' Anyone needing proof of that could have watched comedian Theo Von's routine just a little earlier. Wearing a black T-shirt and backward baseball cap, the podcast host regaled the uniformed troops with jokes about drugs, developmental disabilities, homosexuality and their Qatari hosts. He talked about snorting cocaine off a baby's back but said it was 'a mixed baby' so the white powder was visible on the baby's skin. Von acted out various disabilities, including Down syndrome, and he insulted the U.S. Navy as 'gay.' He also had a punchline about terrorism attacks, asking, 'Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?' He joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it would be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. They were like a 'Ku Klux Sandsman," Von said. He later pointed to the Qatari troops in the audience and said 'they don't like me.' The jokes drew laughter and some groans from the service members at the base, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. There was no acknowledgment from Qatar about the comedy routine and its topics. U.S. and Qatari service members and a small number of journalists following Trump heard the set, which was also available to American television networks. The wealthy Gulf nations that Trump has visited have increasingly welcomed a burgeoning standup scene at home and acts from abroad as they promote themselves as global entertainment destinations, and there are fewer red lines than one might expect in the socially conservative region. When Russell Peters performed in Saudi Arabia and Dave Chappelle in Abu Dhabi last year, both told a number of sexually explicit jokes and playfully mocked aspects of local culture, like the heavy reliance on foreign workers. The only no-go zones appear to be criticism of Islam or the countries' autocratic rulers. 'You can't talk about the royals, and you can't talk about religion,' comedian Tom Segura said on his podcast last year, describing restrictions imposed on a comedy tour he made to the United Arab Emirates. Von connected with Trump during last year's presidential campaign, hosting the Republican candidate for an extended conversation that helped him reach young male voters who were important to his victory. Trump wasn't present for Von's routine at the al-Udeid Air Base, which houses about 8,000 troops. When Trump took the stage in a hangar on the Qatari side of the installation, he praised Von and talked about how his son Barron encouraged him to sit down with the comedian. 'Dad, you've got to do an interview with a guy named Theo Von,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Who the hell is Theo Von?'' 'We had a good time,' he added. This isn't the first time a warm-up act has stirred controversy for Trump. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage' during a Madison Square Garden rally near the end of the campaign. Trump delivered his own free-wheeling remarks during Thursday's event, telling the troops that 'I have nothing else to do, so let's have a little fun.' He talked about plans for an upcoming military parade in Washington, falsely said that he won three presidential elections, joked about people who want him to run for another term and said France would be 'speaking German' if it wasn't for American help during World War II. Trump talked about his administration's efforts to thin the military's top ranks, saying 'we let a lot of four-stars go.' There's long been friction between Trump and some top generals, and he's been more emboldened to remake the command structure. He described people who doubted his military instincts as 'freaking losers,' talking up the campaign against the Islamic State group in his first term. Trump ended his speech in his customary way, dancing to his campaign anthem of 'YMCA.' Von's 'This Past Weekend' is the fifth-most-popular podcast in the U.S. among weekly podcast listeners age 13 or older, according to recent rankings from Edison Podcast Metrics. The mullet-sporting 45-year-old is one of the burgeoning voices of the so-called manosphere, a rising online community of hyper-masculine influencers and comedians who rebuff cancel culture and offer crudeness in its place. Von has interviewed people across the political spectrum and in industries from artificial intelligence to entertainment and sports. ____ Megerian reported from Washington. AP writer Joseph Krauss contributed to this report.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Theo Von riffs on drugs, disabilities and homosexuality before Trump speaks at US base in Qatar
AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — When President Donald Trump addressed U.S. and Qatari troops at a military base in Qatar on Thursday, he assured the rank and file that 'we don't care if you're politically correct.' Anyone needing proof of that could have watched comedian Theo Von's routine just a little earlier. Wearing a black T-shirt and backward baseball cap, the podcast host regaled the uniformed troops with jokes about drugs, developmental disabilities, homosexuality and their Qatari hosts. He talked about snorting cocaine off a baby's back but said it was 'a mixed baby' so the white powder was visible on the baby's skin. Von acted out various disabilities, including Down syndrome, and he insulted the U.S. Navy as 'gay.' He also had a punchline about terrorism attacks, asking, 'Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?' He joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it would be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. They were like a 'Ku Klux Sandsman,' Von said. He later pointed to the Qatari troops in the audience and said 'they don't like me.' The jokes drew laughter and some groans from the service members at the base, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. There was no acknowledgment from Qatar about the comedy routine and its topics. U.S. and Qatari service members and a small number of journalists following Trump heard the set, which was also available to American television networks. The wealthy Gulf nations that Trump has visited have increasingly welcomed a burgeoning standup scene at home and acts from abroad as they promote themselves as global entertainment destinations, and there are fewer red lines than one might expect in the socially conservative region. When Russell Peters performed in Saudi Arabia and Dave Chappelle in Abu Dhabi last year, both told a number of sexually explicit jokes and playfully mocked aspects of local culture, like the heavy reliance on foreign workers. The only no-go zones appear to be criticism of Islam or the countries' autocratic rulers. 'You can't talk about the royals, and you can't talk about religion,' comedian Tom Segura said on his podcast last year, describing restrictions imposed on a comedy tour he made to the United Arab Emirates. Von connected with Trump during last year's presidential campaign, hosting the Republican candidate for an extended conversation that helped him reach young male voters who were important to his victory. Trump wasn't present for Von's routine at the al-Udeid Air Base, which houses about 8,000 troops. When Trump took the stage in a hangar on the Qatari side of the installation, he praised Von and talked about how his son Barron encouraged him to sit down with the comedian. 'Dad, you've got to do an interview with a guy named Theo Von,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Who the hell is Theo Von?'' 'We had a good time,' he added. This isn't the first time a warm-up act has stirred controversy for Trump. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage' during a Madison Square Garden rally near the end of the campaign. Trump delivered his own free-wheeling remarks during Thursday's event, telling the troops that 'I have nothing else to do, so let's have a little fun.' He talked about plans for an upcoming military parade in Washington, falsely said that he won three presidential elections, joked about people who want him to run for another term and said France would be 'speaking German' if it wasn't for American help during World War II. Trump talked about his administration's efforts to thin the military's top ranks, saying 'we let a lot of four-stars go.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. There's long been friction between Trump and some top generals, and he's been more emboldened to remake the command structure. He described people who doubted his military instincts as 'freaking losers,' talking up the campaign against the Islamic State group in his first term. Trump ended his speech in his customary way, dancing to his campaign anthem of 'YMCA.' Von's 'This Past Weekend' is the fifth-most-popular podcast in the U.S. among weekly podcast listeners age 13 or older, according to recent rankings from Edison Podcast Metrics. The mullet-sporting 45-year-old is one of the burgeoning voices of the so-called manosphere, a rising online community of hyper-masculine influencers and comedians who rebuff cancel culture and offer crudeness in its place. Von has interviewed people across the political spectrum and in industries from artificial intelligence to entertainment and sports. ____ Megerian reported from Washington. AP writer Joseph Krauss contributed to this report.
