Following last week's news about the FBI stopping a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Trevor Noah has taken a closer look at the rise of militia groups in the U.S.
In the video above for The Daily Show, the host breaks down the history of these militias in America, from their early roots to their rise during Barack Obama's presidency.
"Wow, militias exploded once Obama became president?" says Noah. "Well well well, we meet again, racism — I've been expecting you."
He goes on to discuss what militias in the U.S. look like in the modern day, showing clips of right-wing groups in the American south organising heavily-armed training missions while talking about the importance of being "prepared."
"What I don't get about these militias is if you want to dress in army fatigues and train for war, you can do that in the military! And they'll pay you, and they give you healthcare," Noah says.
"Look, it's clear that these dudes have a warped ideology, but a big part of this is that these guys clearly just need friends. They're lonely, they're scared of change, and this militia stuff gives them a sense of community. But because of toxic masculinity, the only way they can feel comfortable bonding is if it's based around violence."
Topics The Daily Show Trevor Noah Politics
