Actress and comedian Leslie Jones swung by Comedy Central’s The Daily Show on Thursday for one of her irregularly scheduled rants. This time, Jones, who is not exactly struggling financially, demanded other people pay her reparations and wondered why America hates black people.
Jones kicked off her rant by discussing social media posts by President Trump about the Smithsonian that argued the museums were too negative and focused too much on slavery, “Honestly, honestly, I don’t think museums go far enough. If you don't leave an African American history museum weeping and wanting to give your closest black friends reparations, then they didn't do the museum right. And let me say this, by the way, 40 acres and a mule is not enough anymore. I want 40 acres and a trust fund, how about that? Matter of fact, throw in the mule if you want to. I need something to carry my money.”
Later in her tirade, she wondered, “I just need to know, why does America have so much hatred for black people? Is it because when you see black people, you are reminded of the sins of this country? Is it because my ass is too fat? Is it because people need a scapegoat for their own shortcomings? Or is it because my ass is too fat? Is it because you are afraid we are going to treat you like you treated us? And you know what? I know my ass is fat! Stop looking at my ass and listen to the words that are coming out my mouth!”
Jones then continued her widespread condemnations, “I'm going to be honest, you know what I think? I honestly think everyone, not just white people, are uneducated. Not stupid. Just uneducated about black people. You've been fed false propaganda about black people since the beginning of time in books, music, TV, movies. That shit’s powerful. Even I fall for it sometimes. I saw X-Men and you know how long I believed Halle Berry controlled the weather? But apparently, it's the Jews. Oh, wait, wait, is that propaganda too? Damn, y'all are good! You all are so good at that shit!”
She then tried to prove her point, “See, this is the stereotype that people have. A person talks a certain way or looks a certain way, and everyone wants to make assumptions. When we—when we just want to be treated like everybody else. What do you see when you see us? Do you see us less than human? Do you see us as animals? Why does this shit keep happening?”
That led to a news clip of TV writer Alex O’Keefe claiming he was arrested because an elderly white woman didn’t like the way he was sitting on a Metro Transit Authority train. There are two important details there. First, O’Keefe was breaking the rules by occupying more than one seat, and when he was confronted by the police, his disorderliness caused a delay. Second, it might be reasonable to grant the premise that the woman was being a tattle-tale and should’ve left well enough alone. In that case, the woman was wearing a mask, and it is hard to claim that people still wearing masks are the stereotypical anti-woke Trump voters who share his concerns about the Smithsonian.
Here is a transcript for the September 25 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
9/25/2025
11:13 PM ET
LESLIE JONES: Honestly, honestly, I don’t think museums go far enough. If you don't leave an African American history museum weeping and wanting to give your closest black friends reparations, then they didn't do the museum right. And let me say this, by the way, 40 acres and a mule is not enough anymore. I want 40 acres and a trust fund, how about that? Matter of fact, throw in the mule if you want to. I need something to carry my money.
…
I just need to know, why does America have so much hatred for black people? Is it because when you see black people, you are reminded of the sins of this country? Is it because my ass is too fat? Is it because people need a scapegoat for their own shortcomings? Or is it because my ass is too fat?
Is it because you are afraid we are going to treat you like you treated us? And you know what? I know my ass is fat! Stop looking at my ass and listen to the words that are coming out my mouth!
I'm going to be honest, you know what I think? I honestly think everyone, not just white people, are uneducated. Not stupid. Just uneducated about black people. You've been fed false propaganda about black people since the beginning of time in books, music, TV, movies. That shit’s powerful. Even I fall for it sometimes. I saw X-Men and you know how long I believed Halle Berry controlled the weather? But apparently, it's the Jews. Oh, wait, wait, is that propaganda too? Damn, y'all are good! You all are so good at that shit!
See, this is the stereotype that people have. A person talks a certain way, or looks a certain way and everyone wants to make assumptions. When we — when we just want to be treated like everybody else. What do you see when you see us? Do you see us less than human? Do you see us as animals? Why does this shit keep happening?