Trevor Noah Called Out GOP Hypocrisy on Planned Parenthood in His First Great TV Moment

Trevor Noah has been waiting for this: his first truly great moment — one which would propel him into the league of his predecessor. And Monday night's segment on the Republican Party's relationship with Planned Parenthood and the National Rifle Association was it.

Noah exposed the GOP's hypocrisy in its unwavering pursuit to defund Planned Parenthood and end abortions, given the party's refusal to get behind gun legislation. This was not more apparent than after the Oregon mass shooting, Noah argued. 

"It's truly amazing how much the pro-lifers have been able to accomplish in the anti-abortion fight," Noah says in the clip. "Just imagine what they could do with an issue where the facts are actually on their side," he says of the numerous GOP presidential candidates who have referenced a manipulated video to argue Planned Parenthood is selling fetal tissue for profit.

"Yes, yes," Noah says in the clip. "That is such a deep thing to think. But what other issue could appeal to those who love life?" Immediately after, the Daily Show played a news clip quoting gun death statistics: 97,000 people were shot in the United States in one year, averaging 250 per day.

"Now, now, now," Noah says. "Think about it, people. Imagine if we could bring some of that pro-life passion into being more, well, pro-life. Then, after a mass shooting, instead of this reaction..."

"I don't think more government is necessarily the answer to this," Jeb Bush said after the shooting. "Look, stuff happens. There's always a crisis."

"Instead of that, we could get this reaction," Noah suggests, playing another clip from a speech by the former Florida governor. 

"I am completely pro-life and I believe that we should have a culture of life — it's informed by my faith — from beginning to end," Bush passionately argues in that clip. 

The thrust of Noah's argument lies in the paradoxical value the GOP is willing to place on human life before birth, which it swiftly disregards after that point. 

"The point is, if pro-lifers would just redirect their power toward gun violence, the amount of lives they save could reach superhero levels," Noah says. "They just need to have a superhero's total dedication to life. Because right now they're more like comic book collectors: Human life only holds value until you take it out of the package, and then it's worth nothing."