Overview

• On July 10, The Washington Post published an op-ed by Tim Cunningham, board president of Clowns Without Borders, defending clowning as a sacred art form.
• Cunningham argues that calling President Trump a clown diminishes the art form’s centuries-old cultural significance and suggests “buffoon” as a sharper insult.
• He highlights the humanitarian impact of professional clowning, noting that Clowns Without Borders has operated 13 chapters worldwide for over 30 years in conflict and disaster zones.
• Social media users and right-leaning outlets ridiculed the decision to feature a clown expert as a political commentator.
• The op-ed’s polarizing reception underscores scrutiny of The Washington Post’s editorial judgment as the paper faces subscriber losses and staff departures under Jeff Bezos.