Former congressman George Santos, who was recently expelled from Capitol Hill following a series of deceptive remarks and alleged federal crimes, sat down on popular satirical talk show to candidly discuss his recent scandals in what seemed like an unconventional exit interview of sorts.
The talk show host, renowned for their pointed yet humorous approach, interrogated Santos about his inflated and often false stories. Among the lies discussed was the claim that his mother had survived the 9-11 tragedy, and that his grandparents had lived through the Holocaust. The suggestion was raised that politicians, including Santos, misuse trauma and terror to advance in their professional sphere. Santos responded ambiguously, not denying the role that deceit plays in politics, and suggesting that lying was commonplace among his peers.
Remarkably, Santos admitted during the course of the discussion that he did not recognise eminent civil rights figures such as James Baldwin and Harvey Milk, even after having compared himself to them. This apparent ignorance adds a concerning element to his dismissive attitude toward the abuse of historical traumas for political gain.
Other topics of discussion included the potential prison time Santos could face considering the 23 federal charges leveled against him. Evidence suggested he had exaggerated his connection to a baby he'd been seen with in Congress, claiming that the child was not yet his, inviting much speculation. Moreover, when questioned about SNL comedian Bowen Yang's impersonation of him, Santos responded jovially, saying he believed Yang deserved an EGOT.
Despite these scandals and pending charges, Santos refused to definitively rule out a future political career. Interestingly, when confronted with the idea of being called an 'icon', Santos rejected the label in a playful exchange with the host. This strange, almost paradoxical interview has only added more questions to the curious saga of George Santos.
