Conan O’Brien is comparing former President Trump to the “Harry Potter” villain Lord Voldemort after President Biden declined to mention the ex-commander in chief by name.
Biden appeared in an episode of O’Brien’s SiriusXM podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” in an episode released Wednesday.
The literary dig came while the former late-night TV host and Biden were discussing American aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country last year.
“I think it’s absolutely crucial that Ukraine prevail and it’s something that I’m very passionate about,” O’Brien told Biden during the wide-ranging chat.
“As you know, the Washington you came to in 1973, Republicans were always tough on foreign policy, tough on Russia,” O’Brien said. “And now, MAGA Republicans, they’ve kind of flipped the script, and they’re saying, ‘Well, we can let Ukraine go. It’s not really in our interest,’ and I don’t understand it. It’s confusing,” he continued.
“The other guy says, ‘We can work with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. He’s smart,’” Biden responded.
“The other guy — I like that he’s ‘the other guy,’” O’Brien exclaimed with a big laugh.
“He’s like Voldemort now: His name shall not be mentioned,” O’Brien said of Trump.
“Well, good point,” Biden said as O’Brien chuckled. “I plead guilty.”
Trump has referred to Putin and other authoritarian leaders as “smart” and strong, but he said last year that Russia’s president made a “big mistake” in attacking another country and its people.
It’s not the first time that Trump has been compared to the “Harry Potter” evil wizard from J.K. Rowling’s famed book series, who is seldom referred to by name by the other characters out of fear of retribution.
Earlier this month, 2024 Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie urged fellow GOP White House hopeful Nikki Haley to criticize Trump by name.
“He’s not Voldemort from the ‘Harry Potter’ books. He’s not ‘he who shall not be named,’” the former New Jersey governor said at a town hall event in New Hampshire.
“I just said his name out loud and lighting did not strike me. I did not fall dead of a heart attack. I have not been poisoned by a member of his staff,” Christie said of the 45th president.
“But you would think when you look at the rest of the folks in this race that they fear that’s what would happen if they said his name,” Christie said.