Rick & Morty team reveal why President Curtis had to scrap a Trump joke

The Rick and Morty spinoff President Curtis launches on Adult Swim on July 26, and showrunners Dan Harmon and James Siciliano admit the timing feels awkward while the real POTUS is experiencing record low approval ratings. “We might have done a show about a pope if we had foresight,” Harmon said during a Q&A following a screening of the pilot at Annecy Festival.

“Maybe we've made a bad topic for the show. How did we know the president was going to depress people four years ago? What warning signs did we have?” Harmon and Siciliano began considering President Curtis after the 2021 Rick and Morty season 5 episode “Rick & Morty's Thanksploitation Spectacular,” in which President Andre Curtis and Rick Sanchez clashed.

The character, voiced by Keith David, is an idealized president with the public-service zeal of Leslie Knope and Batman’s taste for high‑tech gadgets.

president curtis, dan harmon, james siciliano, adult swim, keith david, annecy festival, trump joke, rick sanchez, spinoff, approval ratings