Cleese returns to British television screens tonight for a second series of Hold the Sunset, the BBC sitcom in which he stars opposite Alison Steadman. The research was undertaken by data analysts Factba.se, which looked at the first 30,000 words uttered by Mr Trump since he was elected in 2016, and comparing them with ever utterance by every American President going back to 1929.
What tickles me it that the audiences at Trump’s rallies don’t realise that he’s rambling, because that’s how they think anyway
They concluded Mr Trump speaks at a third-to-seventh grade reading level, putting him last out of the 15 Presidents included in the study.
Fawlty Towers star Cleese, who famously clashed with American guest Mr Hamilton in a classic episode of his acclaimed comedy, was at it again on social media last week after reading about the research.
He posted: “I think a good speaker can talk at different levels, depending on the audience.
“What tickles me it that the audiences at Trump’s rallies don’t realise that he’s rambling, because that’s how they think anyway.”
John Cleese has taken a swipe at US President Donald Trump on Twitter (Image: BBC)
Research put Mr Trump’s vocabulary somewhere between third and seventh grade level (Image: GETTY)
Cleese suggested Mr Trump’s limited vocabulary let him down, adding: “Trump is President.”
Earlier this month, Cleese indicated his doubts about Mr Trump by retweeting a meme featuring a picture of the New York billionaire with the words “My name is Donald J Trump. The J stands for genius.”
Cleese’s observations prompted a predictably tetchy reaction on social media among Mr Trump’s supporters.
One appeared to reference the two wars fought between the UK and the USA, in 1776 and 1812 (the actual winner of which remains highly debatable).
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Cleese said Mr Trump’s speeches were “rambling” (Image: GETTY)
He said: “Keep talkin Brit, we uncouth Ramblers know enough to kick your ass twice don’t be asking for a third.”
Another added: “Your [sic] so wrong , please don’t let your animus ooze out, your [sic] starting to sound bitter.
“If you don’t like President Trump for whatever personal reasons that have instilled themselves in your mind fair enough , but stop spitting bile , President Trump is doing a fantastic job.”
However, others were more understanding: one said: “Teddy Roosevelt did not seem to talk down to the people.
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John Cleese’s comments caused a stir on Twitter (Image: GETTY)
John Cleese’s tweet on the subject of Donald Trump (Image: Twitter)
“Trump is not capable of articulation any concept beyond a junior high school level.
“He is speaking at the highest level possible for him.
“Being barely clever at making a sales pitch is not a sign of anything much.”
Another said: “What a genteel way of saying dRump’s audiences are dumber than a box of rocks.”
A meme previously retweeted by John Cleese (Image: AcrossTheBeech)
Cleese has been no stranger to controversy in recent months – in May he tweeted that London was “not an English city anymore”, adding: “I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU.”
He insisted that “virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation”.
Critics were quick to respond, with one saying: “London is an amazing city, and it’s packed-full of people from all over the world, so perhaps that amazingness is a result of that same multiculturalism?”
Hold the Sunset is on BBC1 tonight at 9pm (Image: BBC)
Another said: “London has long been a British city, John.
“Which you might expect, what with it being the capital.”
The 79-year-old, who has openly supported Brexit despite his former links with Europhiles the Liberal Democrats, has described the debate surrounding Britain’s departure from the bloc as “one of the most depressing things about this country”.