Jon Stewart made an early return to The Daily Show desk on Thursday, just days before his usual Monday slot, and delivered a nervy monologue mocking MAGA and Donald Trump - all while Jimmy Kimmel remains in the shadows after his show’s shocking suspension.
Stewart opened by flipping the script: the set turned gaudy gold, and he played the role of a fawning, terrified host in a media world under Trump’s thumb.
“We have another fun, hilarious, Administration-compliant show,” he quipped. “We’re coming to you tonight from a real shithole, the crime-ridden cesspool that is New York City. It is a tremendous disaster like no one’s ever seen before. Some of the National Guard should invade this place, am I right?”
Then Stewart tiptoed into the Kimmel territory - never saying his name directly - skewering conservative hypocrisy on free speech.
“Now, some naysayers may argue that [the Trump] Administration’s [free] speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy… principle-less and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance,” he said. “Some people would say that. Not me, though, I think it’s great.”
Rather than attacking Disney/ABC for suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! over Kimmel’s controversial remarks about suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, Stewart highlighted how right-wing figures routinely flout the same standards they demand of others.
He rolled clips of conservatives calling opponents Nazis, “enemies of the state,” and “less than human,” before juxtaposing it with Trump’s own verbal assaults.
“You know what?” Stewart said. “It’s not really about the specific words. It’s about having a basic sense of humanity.” He added a clip of vice president J.D. Vance declaring: “People on the political left are much likelier to defend and celebrate political violence, this is not a both sides problem.”
Stewart also reminded viewers of past incidents when conservative commentators faced consequences for flippant remarks, including mocking Nancy Pelosi’s husband during a 2022 assault.
“This gentleman had to leave television. I’m not sure where he went, but I’m sure it’s not some prestigious, consequential position he’s not remotely qualified for,” Stewart quipped.
Meanwhile, Kimmel was spotted in public for the first time since ABC’s suspension, trying to maintain a brave face as he stepped out of his Audi in Century City wearing black sunglasses and a navy shirt. Earlier images showed him tense, head in hands - the weight of controversy clear.
Kimmel’s show was pulled following backlash over comments he made on air regarding the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Speaking on Instagram, he wrote: “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?”
Hollywood unions quickly rallied behind Kimmel. SAG-AFTRA condemned the suspension, saying: “Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on… SAG-AFTRA stands with all media artists and defends their right to express their diverse points of view.”
The Writers Guild echoed the sentiment, insisting free speech is essential to democracy.
