Mark Halperin Assesses the 'Cataclysm' of Donald Trump's Presidency
Prior to Wednesday night, Stephen Colbert hadn't seen "Circus" stars Mark Halperin and John Heilemann on the "Late Show" since November 8, when all three discovered Donald Trump would be president.
"You still need comforting from election night, Stephen," Heilemann remarked, after embracing Colbert.
But Halperin, true to form, wasn't too consoling.
"Outside of the Civil War, World War II, and including 9/11, this may be the most cataclysmic event the country has ever seen,” Halperin had said of Trump's win during Colbert's live show.
“I might have understated it,” Halperin admitted Wednesday after Colbert played the clip to rousing applause from the audience.
“In all seriousness, do you see anything in the first 45 days that is the fruit of that moment that you were picturing?” Colbert asked.
“I don’t want to minimize the loss of life in 9/11, and in the wars—obviously that is beyond anything that has happened,” Halperin explained. “But if you think of how this has convulsed the country… More than half of the country that voted against him and is upset about his being president: it’s self-inflicted."
"I’ve traveled a lot since he got elected and there are people who are hopeful, and optimistic, and really think this is the kind of change we need," he added. "And there are adults who say to me, This is the worst thing that’s happened to me in my life."
The second season of "The Circus" starts Sunday and will focus on Trump's first 100 days.
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