On Monday night, Jon Stewart made his much-anticipated return to The Daily Show after nearly six years away from the late-night comedy scene. The comedian, who left the popular Comedy Central show in 2015, wasted no time making headlines with his 20-minute monologue, which took shots at both President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
Stewart opened the show with a segment poking fun at Biden’s recent press conference, where the president struggled to convince the American people that he was still mentally fit for office. The comedian also took aim at Trump, mocking his many controversies and legal battles. However, with his humorous criticism of both candidates, Stewart seemed aware that his comments might draw fire from the left.
After the monologue, correspondent Jordan Klepper joined Stewart on air and questioned his “both-siderism,” saying, “Did you save democracy yet with your ’90s brand of snark?”. Klepper’s remark alluded to the backlash Stewart received from progressive viewers for his 2010 event, “The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear,” which some believe helped Trump get elected by trivializing political issues.
One of the most vocal critics of Stewart’s return was Mary Trump, President Trump’s niece and a frequent commentator on his administration. In her newsletter titled “Jon Stewart’s Danger to Democracy,” Mary called the comedian’s “both sides are the same” rhetoric a “potential disaster for democracy” and accused Stewart of making a mockery out of politics with his 2010 rally.
Others on social media also expressed disappointment in Stewart’s return, labeling him a “bothsidesist fraud” and accusing him of bashing Biden in his monologue. Some even vowed to stop watching the show, saying, “Jon Stewart is not your friend.”
However, not all of the criticism came from the left. Some Republicans took the opportunity to gloat, with Texas Representative Wesley Hunt tweeting, “You know you’re in trouble when you’re a Democratic President and Jon Stewart turns on you.”
Even tech mogul Elon Musk weighed in on the controversy, applauding Stewart for bringing “balance and humor” back to political comedy.
During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked to comment on Stewart’s criticism of Biden and whether the President’s recent press conference was a good idea in retrospect. Jean-Pierre defended the event, saying it was important for the American people to hear directly from Biden and for him to defend himself against the special counsel report.
Despite the backlash from some viewers, Stewart’s return has been a huge success for Comedy Central. The Daily Show garnered its highest ratings in nearly six years, with 1.85 million viewers tuning in to watch the comedian’s return.
In his monologue, Stewart expressed concern about the age of the two presidential candidates and the challenges they may face. He emphasized that it is not the responsibility of voters to silence concerns and criticisms, but rather the candidates’ job to address them. Stewart also reminded viewers that while Biden may not be perfect, he is not Donald Trump, who has faced numerous legal issues and scandals during his presidency.
Overall, Stewart’s return to The Daily Show has sparked a lively debate and drawn attention to the show once again. As he continues to bring his unique brand of political satire to late-night television, it is clear that Stewart will remain a polarizing figure and will continue to make headlines for his bold and often controversial commentary.
