John Oliver asks America to make Donald Drumpf again
Drumpf is an older version of the presidential hopeful's last name
Donald Trump may currently have a last name useful for victory-based wordplay, but if it's up to comedian John Oliver, Trump will become Drumpf.
On Oliver's HBO comedy news show, Last Week Tonight, he argued that Trump as a name istied to success. He encouraged watchers to instead refer toTrump by an older version of his last name: Drumpf.
Frederick Drumpf, Trump's grandfather, changed his name upon immigrating to the United States from Germany according to the International Business Times.
"I get that the character of Donald Trump is entertaining, and that he says things that people want to hear," Oliver said."And I know that his very name is powerful."
The word trump, originating from the word triumph, has significant associations to Trump's brand, includingTrump Towers andnumerous other projects the Republican U.S. presidential hopeful has pursued over the years.
In theFeb. 28 episode, Oliver suggestedmany ways in which Trump poorly represented hissuccess.
Oliver claimed Trump hasrarely been able to follow through on his own legal challenges. He also claimed Trump'scampaign money largely comes from a loan from Trumphimself, which he pays back with campaign donations.
Meanwhile, Oliver said, much of Trump's initial wealth comes from his inheritance. While he's made money since then, a National Journal article noted that he could have made more with zero effort.
Had Trump invested his inheritance in 1974 in an exchange-funded S&P 500 stock index (like a retirement fund) and left it there, he would have $3.4 billion today.
Bloomberg estimates that Trump's current net worth is $2.9 billion.
In spite of all of this, Oliver notedthat many still connect the Trump brand with success.
"If you are thinking of voting for Donald Trump, the charismatic guy promising to make America great again, stop and take a moment to imagine how you would feel if you just met a guy named Donald Drumpf," Oliver said. "A litigious serial liar with a string of broken business ventures."
"That is why tonight I am asking America to make Donald Drumpf again," Oliver continued.
He then declared that people should use the hashtag #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgaina play onTrump's campaign slogan"Make America Great Again" whichspread like wildfire online in advance of Super Tuesday.
@LastWeekTonight has waged the most righteous war #makedonalddrumpfagain pic.twitter.com/rSm84RL9Ap
—@AureliusOfAshai
In honor or Super Tuesday #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain pic.twitter.com/iIrVyUz1O9
—@sunilarora
Dear #SuperTuesday voters,
Please be smart and make the right choice.
Love,
America#MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain pic.twitter.com/wYfy2kcoil
—@StevenClenney
Did my part. Make sure you do too! #SuperTuesday #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain pic.twitter.com/K0Am8rPBHd
—@Dunbar_Mr
With a racist demagogue leading the GOP polls, our nation is nearing Middle East instability.#MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain pic.twitter.com/Fzpd5c3xuO
—@thenateralph
On top of Twitter having its fun, Oliver unveiled a website where you can download an plugin for the Google Chrome web browser that replaces all instances ofTrump withDrumpf.
Best Chrome extension ever! #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain pic.twitter.com/FjpZ1RGtjk
—@dslundberg