In an unusually nasty attack from Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon Wednesday night, the late-night comedian went after President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary, philanthropist Besty DeVos: “But this has some people upset, I heard that Donald Trump's pick for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, never went to public school and has never even worked for public schools. People are saying that as a billionaire without much experience, she might be too similar to Trump.”
He then talked to a fictional “Betsy DeVos” on the phone and grilled her: “Mrs. DeVos, how do you respond to the accusation that you're too inexperienced and too similar to Donald Trump?” The impersonator employed some Trumpesque phrases: “I have big respect for Trump, Jimmy, bigly....And besides, who needs experience?”
Fallon then hurled one liberal talking point after another at his phony guest: “Well, teacher’s unions have also spoken out against you....you failed at every political movement that you've been part of....Your track record suggests that you would gut the education system for the benefit of private companies....Basically serving as a puppet for Donald Trump...and his business interests.”
Here is a full transcript of the November 30 segment:
11:38 PM ET
JIMMY FALLON: But this has some people upset, I heard that Donald Trump's pick for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, never went to public school and has never even worked for public schools. People are saying that as a billionaire without much experience, she might be too similar to Trump. Well, we wanted to find out for ourselves, so we actually have her on the line right now to discuss her new role. Betsy, are you there?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [PLAYING BETSY DEVOS]: Hi, Jimmy. It's fantastic to talk to you, really fantastic.
[LAUGHTER]
FALLON: Mrs. DeVos, how do you respond to the accusation that you're too inexperienced and too similar to Donald Trump?
WOMAN: I have big respect for Trump, Jimmy, bigly. But let me tell you, we are very different people, very different. And besides, who needs experience? Think about it, Jimmy. What teachers did you like more in school? The experienced losers, who assigned homework every night, or the hung over substitutes who just turned out the lights and put on an old VHS copy of E.T.?
FALLON: Yeah, that's right.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Well, teacher’s unions have also spoken out against you and your lack of –
WOMAN: That's ridiculous. I have a great relationship with teachers. Teachers love me. They love me. It's true. But Jimmy, when Americans elected our tremendous President Donald Trump – and he really is tremendous, just tremendous. I mean, this man is so tremendously tremendous. Donald Trump is the most tremendous of the men in the world.
[LAUGHTER]
FALLON: Mrs. DeVos, Mrs. DeVos, I feel like you're not actually saying anything.
WOMAN: No, I'm saying something.
FALLON: Well, if I may just point out, you failed at every political movement that you've been part of.
WOMAN: Wrong.
[LAUGHTER]
FALLON: Your track record suggests that you would gut the education system for the benefit of private companies.
WOMAN: Wrong.
[LAUGHTER]
FALLON: Basically serving as a puppet for Donald Trump...
WOMAN: No puppet.
[LAUGHTER]
FALLON: ...and his business interests.
WOMAN: No puppet. You're the puppet, Jimmy.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
FALLON: Betsy DeVos, everybody. Get outta here. What’s she talking about?
[APPLAUSE]
FALCON: I’m the puppet?
