Beto Video Sparks Spoof on His Hands, Wife's 'Gaze'

Beto O'Rourke is running for president—and a conversation on what the New York Times calls "an age-old trope in American political theater" has been rebooted. That trope would be the "silent, supportive wife," inspired by his spouse, Amy, in the video announcing O'Rourke's candidacy. As the 46-year-old O'Rourke animatedly laid out his vision for America in the three-minute clip, Amy O'Rourke, who's nearly a decade younger than her husband, "occasionally smiled ... and gazed," per the Times, holding tight onto his arm. The paper notes her appearance, reminiscent of past reticent first ladies such as Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan, came on the same day O'Rourke took some flak for making a flip comment on the campaign trail about how Amy was bringing up their three kids, "sometimes with my help."

"I like that Beto talks about his wife like she's a high school friend he enjoys running into at coffee shops," one critic snarked. Also gaining notice in O'Rourke's announcement video: his hyper-perky delivery, complete with hand gestures that even President Trump felt compelled to note (O'Rourke's response to Trump: "I have nothing to say to that," per Newsweek.) Jimmy Fallon spoofed the O'Rourkes, with Deadline describing the Tonight Show host as playing the presidential contender "over-caffeinated." "I'm Beto O'Rourke, and I'm excited," Fallon says in the clip, with an actress playing Amy O'Rourke staring lovingly at him. "That's it, I'm just excited. Oh yeah, I'm also running for president of the United States." He then adds, doing his best impression of a Forrest Gump sprint: "I love the United States, and I love running." (Some quick takes on how O'Rourke's candidacy is being received.)