Conan Gives Optimistic Take on Trump Presidency: 'We Have Been Here Before'
If you’re upset over the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election, Conan O’Brien says you should take heart in the idea that the United States, as a nation, is standing on well-trodden ground.
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“We have been here before,” O’Brien told the studio audience at his late-night show’s taping Wednesday, saying Donald Trump’s imminent presidency — and the contentious contest with Hillary Clinton that preceded it — falls in line with historical examples like Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas and Thomas Jefferson vs. Aaron Burr.
“This is our thing,” he continued. “And the optimist in me chooses today to be happy that we have fair and free elections at all. I think it’s an amazing thing.”
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The host added that he’d traveled to places “where the people would give anything, anything to have our system. In America, we get to pick who’s going to ruin our country. It’s up to us!”
O’Brien closed out the monologue — which TBS released ahead of Conan‘s airing — with some wisdom from Winston Churchill and the return of an admittedly silly bit.
Press PLAY on the video above to watch, then hit the comments with your thoughts on O’Brien’s take.
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