Hillary Clinton Powers Through Bizarre Interview With Zach Galifianakis

“Are you excited to be the first girl president?”

Rarely is presidential nominee Hillary Clinton forced to deal with such an off-putting question, and it was just one in a series of bizarre, awkward moments she faced during a recent interview with actor Zach Galifianakis.

Galifianakis’ show, “Between Two Ferns,” is known for its unique and strange brand of comedy. In 2014, President Obama thrilled young viewers when he appeared on the show and deftly handled Galifianakis’ uncomfortable line of questioning.

It seems Clinton is hoping for a similar response. The New York Times wrote that she “has gone to great lengths to showcase the playful side of her personality” and that she “has striven to appeal to younger voters who might enjoy a well-placed cutting joke.”

Throughout the interview, Clinton maintained a deadpan stare better than that of many “Saturday Night Live” cast members—“letting her host do most of the comedic legwork,” the Times noted. Her comedic choice, however, is garnering rave reviews. “The semi-improvised Between Two Ferns is designed to provoke awkwardness, strange pauses, and annoyed glares from its guests,” wrote The Atlantic. “Clinton leaned into that perfectly, responding to Galifianakis with the kind of polite indifference that made it feel like she wasn’t trying too hard to be in on the joke.”

The two discussed—if you can call it that—Clinton’s political history, as well as her rival, Donald Trump. “[Trump] paid me in steaks,” Galifianakis murmured after playing a Trump campaign ad. “I’d be afraid to eat those, if I were you,” Clinton responded.

The Democratic Party has always had strong ties with Hollywood, and this relationship has continued in the 2016 election cycle. Over the week, Clinton not only appeared on Galifianakis’ show, she also received campaign support from members of the old “The West Wing” TV show and big-time director Joss Whedon.

The six-minute “Ferns” interview was filled with repartee, and Clinton was able to briefly reinforce aspects of her campaign. Overall, though, it consisted of Galifianakis firing off jokes and Clinton holding back her laughter.

“I really regret doing this,” Clinton said at one point, sighing.

Watch the full interview below:

—Posted by Emma Niles