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The Onion’s Social Media Post Stirs Strong Debate

The Onion’s Social Media Post Stirs Strong Debate

It’s hard to believe, but there’s actually a way to joke about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump—and do it well. Drew Dunn proved it can be done in a stand-up routine where he masterfully walked the fine line, combining humor with a sharp Trump impression that hit all the right notes. The result? Brilliant comedy that resonates because it understands the gravity of the event while delivering laughs in a thoughtful, clever way.

But then there’s The Onion, which has long been a staple of satire. Unfortunately, what they did with their latest attempt feels like a massive misfire. In a piece supposedly fact-checking Trump’s claim that no one leaves his rallies early, they crossed a line with a tasteless punchline: “They’re carried out in body bags.” The Babylon Bee has now become the undisputed leader in political satire, leaving The Onion grasping at straws for shock value rather than wit.

What makes this particular joke fall flat is not just the poor taste, but the fact that it takes a tragic event and weaponizes it for a cheap laugh. In contrast, Dunn’s jokes worked because Trump survived, and his routine never lost sight of that context. But The Onion’s attempt lands with an ugly thud because it drags in Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who tragically died shielding his family during the attack. Unlike Trump, who is a public figure accustomed to the rough-and-tumble of political life, Comperatore was a private citizen—a man whose death doesn’t deserve to be trivialized for the sake of a hollow joke.

In the end, The Onion’s punchline reeks of the anger and bitterness that often undercuts attempts at humor in today’s polarized landscape. Young liberals, who the publication seems to cater to, may not realize that comedy—especially political satire—requires a deft touch. The humor should come first, not the underlying resentment. When hate is allowed to take center stage, the comedy collapses under its own weight. As one of their own critics on social media pointed out: “Do better, Onion. Do better.”

Written by Mark Stevens - September 11, 2024