In the world of political satire, few topics are as ripe for comedic scrutiny as election results, especially those as contentious as the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Recently, comedians have been taking aim at the media for its portrayal of Donald Trump’s 2016 victory as a “landslide,” a term frequently used in the aftermath of his surprising win over Hillary Clinton. These comedians, through sharp wit and observational humor, have been making light of what they consider a distortion of historical facts, often comparing the media’s celebration of Trump’s “landslide” to more accurate assessments of his electoral success.

The jokes, memes, and comedic skits have been flooding social media and late-night talk shows, with humorists poking fun at how some outlets have used the term “landslide” to describe Trump’s narrow Electoral College victory despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. As the fallout from the 2020 election still resonates, comedians have found a treasure trove of material to lampoon the media’s portrayal of Trump’s first win and its implications for American politics and journalism.

The Definition of a “Landslide” Victory

The term “landslide” in political parlance typically refers to a decisive or overwhelming electoral victory, one in which a candidate wins by a wide margin, not just in terms of votes, but in the overall sense of public support. A landslide is often associated with electoral wins where a candidate dominates in both popular vote and the Electoral College, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s victories in the 1930s and 1940s or Ronald Reagan’s overwhelming triumph over Walter Mondale in 1984.

Donald Trump’s victory in 2016, while historic in its own right, hardly met this definition. He lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, and his win in the Electoral College, while crucial and successful, was by no means the resounding victory that would typically warrant the label “landslide.” Trump secured 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227, which was a margin smaller than that of many other recent presidents, including George W. Bush in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008. The idea of calling such a narrow and contested victory a “landslide” struck many political analysts, voters, and comedians as perplexing, if not misleading.

The Comedic Response

Comedians have been quick to respond to the use of the term “landslide” to describe Trump’s 2016 win. Through stand-up routines, satirical news sketches, and online memes, they’ve made fun of what they perceive as a gross exaggeration by certain media outlets and pundits. The jokes often focus on the incongruity between the term “landslide” and the actual electoral result, which was closer to a squeaker than a landslide.

One of the most popular comedic tropes has been the notion that the term “landslide” should only be used when a candidate wins by an overwhelming margin. Comedians like Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver have pointed out that referring to Trump’s win as a landslide is akin to calling a car that’s barely able to start “brand new” or labeling an underwhelming fast food meal as “gourmet.”

Noah, in particular, has been vocal about the way the media portrayed Trump’s victory. He remarked on “The Daily Show,” saying, “Calling Trump’s win a landslide is like calling your local deli’s sandwich a gourmet meal. It’s still just a regular sandwich, and we all know it.”

Other comedians have taken a more direct approach, with some claiming that the media’s attempts to frame Trump’s 2016 win as a landslide served more as a PR move for the president than an accurate reflection of electoral reality. Jimmy Kimmel used his late-night platform to mock the overuse of the term, quipping that “calling Trump’s win a landslide is like calling the Titanic a ‘boat ride.'”

The Media’s Complicated Relationship with Trump

For many comedians, the focus on the term “landslide” is part of a broader critique of the media’s complicated relationship with Trump. Media outlets, particularly those aligned with conservative views, were often quick to adopt the language of triumph after Trump’s 2016 victory, framing it as a great success despite the narrowness of the result. Critics argue that this portrayal of Trump’s win served as a means of legitimizing a candidate who had been seen as an outsider, controversial figure, and an underdog throughout the campaign.

What made this approach especially ripe for satire was the perceived inconsistency in how different news outlets treated Trump’s 2016 win. For example, some conservative media figures embraced the “landslide” language, while others in the mainstream media, particularly on the left, seemed reluctant to question it, at least in the immediate aftermath of the election. The resulting media landscape presented a confusing and contradictory narrative, one that lent itself to comedic criticism.

Comedians like John Oliver on “Last Week Tonight” took on the task of exploring these contradictions, using humor to critique both the media’s failure to challenge the use of “landslide” and the larger issues of bias and framing in political reporting. “The media has a funny way of calling things a ‘landslide’ when it’s convenient for them,” Oliver said during one of his segments, noting the gap between the electoral margin and the media’s narrative.

Trump’s Supporters and the ‘Landslide’ Narrative

The continued use of the term “landslide” by Trump’s supporters also provides fertile ground for comedians. For many of his most ardent fans, Trump’s 2016 win was nothing short of historic, an overwhelming victory that represented a revolution in American politics. This narrative, despite its lack of empirical backing, has been repeated ad nauseam by conservative pundits and has found its way into popular culture.

Comedians have been quick to parody this belief, often highlighting the absurdity of framing a narrowly contested election as a massive victory. Some jokes play off the disconnect between Trump’s public bravado and the reality of his political position. For example, one popular meme shows Trump standing next to a small pile of sand, declaring it a “landslide,” with the caption “I won the biggest landslide in history—everyone says so.” This image of exaggeration has become emblematic of the way Trump’s supporters sometimes depict his political success.

Media Responsibility and the Comedy of Politics

As the comedians continue to lampoon the media’s portrayal of Trump’s victory, they also highlight an important issue in modern political discourse: the responsibility of the media to provide accurate, truthful representations of electoral outcomes. In a time when misinformation and spin are pervasive, comedic critiques serve as a valuable tool for reminding audiences of the need for skepticism and critical thinking.

In many ways, the satirical coverage of the term “landslide” embodies the role of comedy as a counterbalance to political messaging. Comedians play a critical role in helping audiences dissect the narratives presented by the media, often offering a more nuanced perspective on complex issues. By poking fun at the media’s portrayal of Trump’s win, comedians offer a playful yet incisive critique of the ways in which political language can shape public perception.

Conclusion

The joke about Trump’s 2016 win being labeled a “landslide” has become a recurring theme in political comedy, and it is easy to see why. The term, when applied to such a narrowly won election, is ripe for parody. Through humor, comedians have been able to expose the contradictions in the way political victories are portrayed by the media, while also critiquing the broader dynamics of political reporting. Ultimately, these comedic responses to the media’s portrayal of Trump’s “landslide” victory offer a lighthearted yet important reminder of the role humor plays in challenging the narratives that shape our understanding of politics.