John Oliver debunks the election fraud claims made by Trump and his allies

"As a parting gift to the country, Trump is somehow managing to divide us even further."
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
John Oliver debunks the election fraud claims made by Trump and his allies
Watch Next

Another week, another spate of angry, baseless comments from Donald Trump about election fraud. John Oliver already spent time on Last Week Tonight earlier this year quashing claims that mail-in voting leads to "massive fraud," but this week he turned to the specifics — going through each of the different examples put forward by Trump and his supporters and debunking them, one at a time.

That claim that thousands of dead people had voted in Michigan, for instance? "When CNN picked out 50 of those names to do a spot check, they discovered 37 were dead and hadn't cast votes, five had voted but were still alive, and eight were alive but hadn't voted," Oliver explains.

And the poll worker who appeared anonymously on Fox News to state she'd seen people outside a Biden-Harris van tampering with ballots? "That is either total bullshit or the dumbest scheme of all time," Oliver says. "The Biden-Harris campaign opened envelopes and marked ballots in the parking lot of the polling place, in broad daylight, against the side of a van that had their logo on it? That is like if in Ocean's 11, they showed up to the casino in a giant Danny Ocean Robbery Service van and slowly put on their disguises in the lobby — it's the perfect crime!"

The list goes on from there — and after he's finished debunking the various claims, Oliver explains why Republicans' decision to humor Trump is having real-world consequences, blocking Biden's team from accessing transition funds, and obstructing their access to COVID-19 distribution plans.

"As a parting gift to the country, Trump is somehow managing to divide us even further, while also hobbling his successor at the worst possible time," Oliver finishes. "Which is absolutely unforgivable."

Recommended deals for you

HBO Max — top pick for premium content

Disney+ — best for families

Hulu — popular choice for originals

Peacock — low-cost choice for live sport

Products available for purchase through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Mashable Image
Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the General Assignment Editor, UK, for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.


Latest Videos

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to the midterm election results
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. A list of large words is visible behind him.


Uncle Roger judging fried rice with Mythical Kitchen is the crossover we deserve
Nigel Ng and Josh Scherer try fried rice together in a studio kitchen.


Jimmy Kimmel roasts Trump's 'last stand' before the midterms
A side-by-side image shows two men in suits. The man on the left is on a talk show stage, the man on the right standing at a podium in front of a large pool.

Jon Stewart roasts Trump's pre-midterms Reflecting Pool speech
A man sits behind a talk show desk. In the top left is an image of the president.

What do regular people really think of the iPhone Duo?
iPhone Duo reactions

Why Jordan Klepper thinks we're living in "dumb McCarthyism"
Jordan Klepper

Inde Navarrette mocks Shane Gillis' gym joke in 'SNL' monologue
Episode 1908 -- Pictured: Host Inde Navarrette during the Monologue on Saturday, October 31, 2026

David S. Pumpkins returns to 'SNL,' and Trump makes it weird
SNL sketch still image featuring a parody of Donald Trump and David S. Pumpkins