Speaker Johnson warns against media criticism of Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson joins 'Fox News Sunday' to discuss the passing of President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' and Democrats' resistance to its passing.
Tim Cunningham – a professional clown and the board president of Clowns Without Borders – wrote in the Washington Post on Thursday about liberal critics' frequent use of the word "clown" to describe President Donald Trump and members of his administration.
"None of this qualifies Trump for such a title. I am a clown and board president of the nonprofit, Clowns Without Borders. I’m here to set the record straight," Cunningham argued in the Post.
Cunningham listed several recent examples of Trump being called a clown, including by Democratic Strategist James Carville and MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell, who said in April the president was a "humiliated clown."
The professional clown also noted there were "Kick out the Clowns" protests across the U.S.
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A clown wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post denouncing the frequent Trump-clown comparisons. (Photo by Martin Pope/Getty Images, Washington Post)
Conservatives have also compared the Democratic Party to a clown show, as Cunningham argued the title should not be used in politics at all.
"Our joyful work has been diminished into an insult. Every election season, the word ‘clown’ resurfaces to compare tumultuous Washington politics to a circus. Political commentators and social media users are not the only ones who wrongfully sling this jibe. ‘Clown’ is used by almost everyone to belittle those seen as foolish or incompetent. The more we mistreat the word, the more we lose understanding of a sacred art form," he wrote.
Cunningham said people should find another way to "despise and depose fascism," and said "Keep Clown out of Trumpian comparisons, and for that matter, all politics."
He also suggested people use the word "buffoon" instead.
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A circus clown car featuring US President Donald Trump and members of his administration as part of a "No Kings" protest outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on June 14, 2025. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
The Post op-ed was mocked on social media.
Abigail Jackson, the White House Deputy Press Secretary, quipped, "Yes, this is real."
Jackson later told Fox News Digital, "Just when you think the Washington Post can’t beclown themselves any more, they give a platform to ‘Clowns without Borders’ who are upset that the term ‘clown’ is being misused to dishonor ‘several ancient indigenous cultures’ that ‘revere a sacred clown figure.’ This will probably be put into the Democrat Party platform in no time."
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Other conservative social media users were similarly amazed that the Post published the report.
Cunningham also detailed his work with Clowns without Borders, explaining, "CWB has 13 operational chapters around the world; our budgets are small, but our reach is broad. We perform for thousands of people living in refugee camps, but we can also craft an act for an audience of one."
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"Clowns are more than children’s birthday party performers; we help people relax, heal and prompt others to think differently about the world," he wrote.
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