'Anything could have happened by the time we go out'

It will come as little surprise, but Have I Got News For You will tonight mock Donald Trump’s flip-flopping  over tariffs, sending global economies haywire.

Speaking about the chaos, Ian Hislop said: ‘The trouble is, anything could have happened by the time we go out, or indeed by the time I finish this sentence.

‘His [Trump’s] reactions change so rapidly and all his supporters have to justify which is the good bit… because they say "Trump's going to stand firm, he's not going to change, he's got a spine, he's not going to buckle…. oh he's gone… and then they say it was his plan all along!"’

Brand new episode hosted by Martin Clunes, with @Iansmithcomedy & @helenlewis tonight at 9pm on BBC One & @BBCiPlayer pic.twitter.com/uIIpKdkFVi

— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) April 11, 2025

Paul Merton joked: ‘They had this thing a couple of weeks ago when the new phrase was Trust In Trump, until somebody pointed out what the initials stand for.’

Making his debut on the show, comedian Ian Smith said: ‘It's really frustrating for us as well because we kissed his arse before anyone else did. That was all we had to brag… that we were on 10% per cent, now everyone's on 10per cent! He could have at least put us on like 9.5 per cent…’

‘Yeah the bloody penguins are on 10 per cent and they didn't even offer up their king!’ journalist Helen Lewis added.

And speaking about Trump claiming credit for calming the markets after abandoning his plans, Hislop said: ‘It’s like the fireman who comes in and says, "OK I set the fire to the place… but look I’m putting it out now." 

Later in the episode, the panel turned their attention to the Birmingham bin strikes.

Host Martin Clunes tried to put a positive spin on it by saying: ‘It’s covered in 23,000 tonnes of festering rubbish… but on the plus side, Only Fools And Horses The Musical is on at the Birmingham Hippodrome," Clunes joked, ever the optimist.

‘Someone suggested they should bring in the army,’ Smith added. ‘It does sound like the beginning of one of those adverts where they say ‘If you can collect a bin, you can drive a tank!’" Smith joked.

Clines added that the problem was ‘so bad that Lenny Henry can't get out of his Premier Inn.’

The panel also discussed the King and Queen’s trip to Rome.  ‘It’s a big 20^th wedding anniversary present, meeting the Pope,’ Smith said. ‘That’s what they were out there for, their 20^th wedding anniversary. Usually 20^th is China but the tariffs are so high now…’

Clunes explained: ‘During their state visit the King and Queen had an audience with his holiness at the Vatican… although there was an awkward moment when Camilla nipped out for a fag and the crowd thought they'd elected a new Pope!" 

Episode 2 of Have I Got News For You will be on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight from 9pm

Published: 11 Apr 2025