Jim Gaffigan Roasts Trump With Double-Entendre Cat Joke: 'Second Time Grabbing a Kitty' Is a 'Campaign Issue'
Jim Gaffigan Roasts Trump With Double-Entendre Cat Joke: 'Second Time Grabbing a Kitty' Is a 'Campaign Issue'
American comedian Jim Gaffigan is perhaps best known for clean, observational comedy. Recently, he took a sly swat at former President Donald Trump with a well-crafted cat joke that got a double meaning. Gaffigan's quip, referencing Trump's infamous 2016 "Access Hollywood" tape, brought the house down while sparking conversation on Trump's continued political controversies.
You know, they say the second time grabbing a kitty becomes a campaign issue," he said with that telltale deadpan delivery. "I mean, first time, okay, people let it slide. But twice? You've got to start asking questions."
The joke was a nod, not so subtle to past remarks of Trump as laid out in the leaked "Access Hollywood" tape-the remarks have him talking derogatorily about women. Gaffigan chose the double entendre as a way to stay within his comedic style while at the same time bringing home a pointed commentary on the behavior of Trump and its effect on the latter's political career.
Laughter and applause broke out as the audience welcomed this kind of sharp but lighthearted critique that increasingly has become the tradition of comedians reaching out to address major political issues for a time. In doing so, Gaffigan managed to walk the line between what is edgy and what's family-friendly in his use of the playful metaphor "kitty.".
This is not the first time Gaffigan touches on political issues in his acts. In 2020, the comedian made headlines after breaking his usual silence on politics to critique Donald Trump and the divisive atmosphere surrounding his presidency. While some fans felt surprised by his drift toward doing political humor, Gaffigan has since balanced this gap with satire and subtle jabs at the political landscape without totally abandoning his signature style.
The joke arrives at a time when Trump faces renewed attention as he campaigns for a possible 2024 presidential bid-and many wonder if his controversies in the past will be what propels to the front. Gaffigan's cunning spin of the "grabbing" incident harnessed that very sentiment-that maybe while those controversies were overlooked previously, they are now going to make much more of an impact on his future political prospects.
But for Gaffigan, that joke did hit all the right chords among people who love satire that makes their point but leaves room for interpretation. He is one of those few comedians with the prowess to wear political commentary masked under subtle humor-a good reason he has remained a darling in the comedy world, and his recent Trump joke will not be left out in the litany of sharp pieces of humor punctuated with comedic timing.
