Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to President-elect Donald Trump, became the target of relentless ridicule during a TikTok livestream Thursday night. Cohen, who once vowed to flee the country if Trump were re-elected, found himself not only backtracking on that commitment but also battling a virtual barrage of humorous effects placed on his head by gleeful Trump supporters.
TikTok’s interactive livestream feature allows viewers to apply virtual filters and effects in real-time, and Trump’s supporters took full advantage. They bombarded Cohen with a rotating cast of comical graphics, including virtual turkeys, pompadours, and cowboy hats. Each new effect seemed to push Cohen closer to the edge.
“I don’t like the stupid turkeys,” Cohen snapped at one point, visibly exasperated. “Let’s just knock that stupid s*** off, please.”
Cohen had previously declared his intention to leave the United States if Trump secured another term. However, on the livestream, he offered a different story, attempting to clarify his stance amid the mocking.
“I said I was leaving,” Cohen explained. “And then the following day…I turned around, and I said that there’s no chance in the world that I’m leaving my country.”
His defiance, however, did little to deter the trolls. One by one, viewers continued to pile on with more graphics, further disrupting his attempt to set the record straight. Cohen’s frustration was palpable as he paused mid-sentence, momentarily defeated by the relentless onslaught of digital antics.
Despite the levity of the situation, Cohen grew increasingly hostile toward his detractors, doubling down on his right to remain in the U.S.
“I’m not leaving anyway. You leave,” he declared, pointing directly at the camera. “This is my country. And I have every right—every single right—within which…”
Before he could finish, another filter slapped a cowboy hat on his head, prompting Cohen to stop and sigh in frustration.
The livestream quickly became a viral spectacle, with clips spreading across social media platforms. Trump supporters and casual viewers alike reveled in Cohen’s struggles, while some critics pointed out the irony of his predicament.
“Michael Cohen can’t even survive a TikTok livestream without losing it. Imagine him fleeing the country,” one user joked on Twitter.
Another quipped, “Cohen said he’s staying put, but it looks like those virtual turkeys are flying free.”
Ok this is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Michael Cohen is trying to explain his plans to leave the country after Trump won and is getting increasingly mad as livestream viewers add a Turkey filter to his face.pic.twitter.com/kkLuqt0Gfm
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) November 8, 2024
The incident underscored the unique power of platforms like TikTok, where real-time interactions can quickly spiral into moments of collective humor—or humiliation.
Cohen’s fraught relationship with Trump has been well-documented. Once a fiercely loyal “fixer” for the former president, Cohen later turned on Trump, testifying against him in a high-profile congressional hearing and releasing a tell-all book.
His public pivot from staunch Trump ally to vocal critic has made him a polarizing figure. While some view him as a whistleblower seeking redemption, others see him as an opportunist attempting to rehabilitate his image.
The livestream debacle added a new chapter to Cohen’s already tumultuous public life. Critics were quick to pounce on his apparent flip-flop regarding his earlier promise to leave the country.
“Cohen backpedals harder than a peloton instructor,” one viewer commented during the stream.
Toward the end of the livestream, Cohen attempted to regain control, urging viewers to take his comments and his frustration seriously.
“Let’s be adults here,” he said, his voice strained. “This is about more than just me or you. It’s about what’s happening in this country.”
However, the continued interruptions and filters made it clear that few were in the mood for serious discourse.
Michael Cohen’s latest attempt to address the public backfired in spectacular fashion, turning what was likely intended to be a serious discussion into a comedic free-for-all.
As his vote of confidence in his decision to stay in the U.S. faltered under the weight of digital cowboy hats and turkey graphics, Cohen’s struggle became yet another example of how live social media can turn even the most serious of topics into a sideshow.
For now, Cohen may want to consider a less interactive platform for his future addresses—preferably one without virtual turkeys.
