Veteran journalist and former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather captured widespread attention Monday with a pointed Facebook post aimed at President Donald Trump. Rather’s brief comment amassed nearly a million likes and over 60,000 responses.
The social media post simply quoted an old saying attributed as a Turkish proverb: “When a clown moves into a palace he doesn’t become a king, the palace instead becomes a circus.”
In the ensuing Facebook comments, Rather linked to a recent article he had penned concerning Trump’s controversial international tariffs, making clear the intended subject of his quote. The concise yet potent message resonated deeply among many who expressed agreement and apprehension regarding the current state of the administration.
Numerous Facebook users quickly voiced their approval. One commenter remarked, “Perfect description of what is going on right now. I never understood people’s fear of clowns, until now.” Another quipped, “My daughter used to be afraid of clowns. Here is one we can all be afraid of.”
Trump’s presidency has regularly raised eyebrows with unconventional and extravagant decisions ranging from redecorating the Oval Office with opulent gold accents to using White House grounds to prominently feature luxury products from billionaire allies. Controversies further erupted over policies such as offering fast-track routes to citizenship for substantial investments of roughly $5 million.
Despite its popularity online, the proverb Rather quoted is widely believed to have its origin not in Turkey, but among Circassians, an ethnic group from the Caucasus. Nevertheless, the saying has recently enjoyed renewed attention, notably after NBA star LeBron James used it on Instagram, drawing parallels between its wisdom and America’s political climate.
Dan Rather, who covered landmark historical events including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, and the attacks of September 11th before his departure from CBS in 2006, has since become a notable figure on social media platforms, frequently commenting on pressing political issues during his retirement.
