Jon Stewart Criticizes Media’s Focus on Trump’s Stunts Over “Enemy From Within” Rhetoric
Jon Stewart has never shied away from speaking his mind, especially when it comes to media and politics. Recently, Stewart took aim at the media for focusing too much on Donald Trump’s bizarre antics, such as working a shift at McDonald’s or making off-color comments about former pro golfer Arnold Palmer, while overlooking Trump’s far more serious and dangerous rhetoric about the “enemy from within.” This focus on the absurd rather than the substantive, Stewart argues, is leaving the media and the public distracted from the real threats Trump’s words may pose to American democracy.
Stewart’s Frustration with Media’s Focus on Trump’s Absurd Stunts
In a recent episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart expressed frustration with the media’s tendency to focus on Donald Trump’s often ridiculous and headline-grabbing actions on the campaign trail. Whether it’s his staged McDonald’s shift or his inappropriate remarks about Arnold Palmer, Trump’s stunts have garnered widespread media attention. However, Stewart believes that by concentrating on these distractions, the media is neglecting Trump’s more dangerous rhetoric—particularly his claims about the “enemy from within.”
According to Stewart, this approach plays into Trump’s hands, allowing him to engage in “clownish campaigning” while serious issues go unchecked. “Kamala Harris is out there sweating the details over her new opportunity economy. Trump’s just out there farting around,” Stewart said, emphasizing the contrast between the former president’s antics and the substantive work of other politicians.
Trump’s “Enemy From Within” Rhetoric
Stewart turned his focus to what he sees as a far more troubling aspect of Trump’s behavior—his talk of an internal enemy threatening the United States. During interviews with Fox News and Fox Business, Trump referred to elected officials as the “enemy from within,” claiming they are more dangerous than foreign adversaries like China and Russia. Stewart pointed out that Trump specifically named political figures such as Rep. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as part of this so-called internal enemy.
For Stewart, these comments are no joke. While the media was busy covering Trump’s McDonald’s photo-ops, Stewart highlighted the gravity of Trump’s remarks, warning that they carry significant weight, particularly among Trump’s loyal supporters. “That’s not fun-loving and mischievous,” Stewart said. “That’s actually worthy of some real examination.”
Republican Leaders Dismiss Trump’s Dangerous Rhetoric
Stewart’s frustration only grew when he saw Republican leaders downplaying Trump’s dangerous language. He played clips of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu dismissing Trump’s comments as harmless. Sununu even went so far as to claim that Trump wasn’t serious about using military force against his political opponents, saying, “He’s not talking about using the military to attack people who disagree with him politically or anything like that.”
This dismissal angered Stewart, who exploded with disbelief on The Daily Show, shouting, “He is literally saying that! What are you talking about?” Stewart’s outrage underscores his concern that the media, and even some politicians, are not taking Trump’s rhetoric seriously enough.
Stewart’s Reminder of January 6 and Trump’s Attempted Coup
Stewart reminded his viewers that Trump has already attempted to use extreme measures to stay in power, citing the January 6, 2021, insurrection as a prime example. “Remember that day he tried to overthrow the government?” Stewart asked sarcastically, referring to the Capitol riots that resulted in multiple deaths and a threat to the democratic process.
For Stewart, the fact that Trump’s comments about the “enemy within” are being brushed aside by media outlets and Republican leaders is troubling. Stewart believes that while Trump’s antics may seem clownish, they conceal a much darker undercurrent of authoritarianism. “We are left with this surreal idea that somehow Trump’s absurdity renders him benign,” Stewart observed. Yet, as he pointed out, this absurdity should not distract from the real threats Trump poses.
Media’s Role in Fostering Distrust
Stewart’s critique wasn’t solely directed at Trump and his rhetoric. He also took aim at the role of the media in creating a divided and distrustful public. By focusing on Trump’s outlandish behavior, Stewart argued that the media is inadvertently undermining its credibility. “The poor, sweet media — oh, poor, sweet media — they know they’re mad. They’re just not exactly sure which thing they should be maddest about anymore,” Stewart said, pointing out the confusion within the media about how to handle Trump’s campaign strategy.
This confusion, according to Stewart, is dangerous. It leaves the public focusing on Trump’s frivolous acts rather than the more serious threats he poses to the political system. Stewart urged the media to shift its focus to the real issues—Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric and the threat it presents to democracy.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Similar Sentiments
Interestingly, Jon Stewart isn’t the only late-night host to voice concerns about the media’s approach to Trump. Jimmy Kimmel also expressed similar sentiments during an interview with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough. Kimmel argued that news networks are contributing to the problem by not challenging the false narratives being spread by political figures, particularly on the right. He cited Trump’s outlandish claims, like immigrants devouring pets in Ohio, as examples of lies that go unchecked by certain news networks.
Kimmel echoed Stewart’s frustrations, pointing out that the media’s failure to hold politicians accountable is fueling distrust among the public. “I think that there are certain news networks, if you want to call them that, who are lying to people,” Kimmel said. He added that this failure to provide accurate information is part of why so many Americans continue to support Trump despite his repeated falsehoods.
The Broader Impact on Democracy
In the end, both Stewart and Kimmel are highlighting the same concern: the media’s focus on the trivial is allowing dangerous rhetoric to go unchecked. For Stewart, Trump’s absurd stunts are not the problem. The real issue is that his rhetoric about enemies from within and using the military against political opponents is not being taken seriously by the media or the political establishment.
By calling attention to this issue, Stewart is urging the media to be more vigilant in its coverage of Trump and to focus on the real threats he poses to democracy. As the 2024 election looms, Stewart’s message is clear: don’t be distracted by the clownish campaigning; keep your eye on the authoritarian rhetoric.
