As it turns out, a journalist can be clowns. Take the latest from WaPo-an editorial written by a professional clown.

I’m not kidding. The missive entitled, “Donald Trump is Not a Clown, I Should Know” was penned by Clowns Without Borders, professional performing clown, Tim Cunningham. Apparently, calling Donald Trump a clown is an insult to the clown community. Tim the Clown took to WaPo to “set the record straight”, once and for all:

I have performed as a professional clown for 24 years. Clown, capital C, is a valuable and varied art form; pantomimes, acrobats, magicians, dancers, stand-up comedians, vaudeville artists and jugglers are all examples of artists who incorporate Clown into their work.”-Tim Cunningham, Washington Post

What is this Bezos Bozo trying to say? That he is a professional clown. And that Donald Trump is not one of them. It, in fact, is an outright insult to call Donald Trump a clown. This WaPo writer, in his mind, has more talent in his pinky finger than the politicians people refer to as “clowns”. “Refer to them as buffoons” instead”, he says. The clowns across the world are all butt-hurt about it, honestly. How insensitive is it to compare an art form such as clowning to The President of The United States?

All Clown shares the common values of healing, empathy and reflection.”-Tim Cunningham, WaPo

Very insensitive, in fact. The guys and gals in red noses provide healing, empathy and reflection. Unless you’re John Wayne Gacey. We won’t talk about healing, empathy and reflection there. The point is, (according to Cunningham), Donald Trump cannot, and should not, be associated with the above descriptors or the “C” word. A serial rapist and killer dressed in a “healer”‘s costume luring little boys? Meh. No big deal.

@NotTheOnion

— Paul Stelter (@pstelter2000) July 10, 2025

Clowns are more than children’s birthday party performers; we help people relax, heal and prompt others to think differently about the world.”-Tim Cunningham, WaPo

No, man. You’re all scary AF. Actually, a middle-aged guy with grease paint and oversized shows puts me on edge. I honestly think about what the person is feeling under a painted smile. Like, does that person want to kill me? But, please, go on.

Yet, 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.”-Tim Cunningham

Real clowns bring joy you say? pic.twitter.com/8YjBvViZp9

— Spencer (@Spencera71) July 10, 2025

It’s funny how Tim Cunningham did not speak up or feel insulted when people called Joe Biden a clown. Or, when Hillary and Chelsea Clinton impersonated clowns at least twice. Once at the Governor’s mansion (pre-plastic surgery for Chels) in a mother-daughter portrait, and once in gay Paris for one of their “Gutsy” episodes.

And, let’s not forget the indigenous peoples. I wonder if Tim apologize for his toxic white-man privilege and does his speech about being on stolen land before each juggling act.

Clown demands years, if not a lifetime, of study. Consider the physical virtuosity of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, or the impeccable comedic timing of Mr. Bean. What’s more, Clown is not an invention of the modern era; several ancient Indigenous cultures revere a sacred clown figure. For example, the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux) people celebrate the heyoka, an honorable community member who uses humor to shed light on societal problems.”-Tim Cunningham

In defense of Cunningham’s TDS rant, he is referring to “Clown” and “Clowning” as a verb. According to the dictionary, a clown is also defined as: “a rude ill-bred person : BOOR”. I would think this is what most people on the left think of Trump but, Cunningham riffs on:

Let’s find a better metaphor to despise and depose fascism. Keep Clown out of Trumpian comparisons, and for that matter, all politics. Offer Clown the respect it deserves and invoke us for good: in alliance with other artists, activists and humans who believe in a better, happier world.”-Tim Cunningham

Tim Cunningham pens this editorial, whines about the use of the word “clown” and then throws in the word fascism. Honestly, he beclowned himself in that one sentence.

That “Clown” in The White House has done more in his 7 months of office than the “clown” before him. But, even though it did not bother the professional clowns when nothing was being done for four years, they are now part of the clown resistance. Fighting fascism. One balloon animal at a time.

So, send in the clowns. They need a few more writers at WaPo and The New York Times and could possibly staff some reporters at CNN and MSNBC. Who knows? Maybe the ratings will surge? Up next: Pennywise provides a different take on the world: Don’t deport MS-13 drug cartel soldiers, you fascists. They are providing gainful employment for young children.

Photo credit: Pixabay.com/Gellinger/Creative Commons License