Jon Stewart rejected a fan’s idea of him running for president, referring to it as stemming from “despair” and “frustration” with current political circumstances. He remarked, “When I see someone on TV expressing what I feel, I think, ‘Well, forget it.’
“It’s appalling to suggest that having the ability to control our lives is a privilege,” Stewart said, seemingly acknowledging that many overlook the fact that elected officials serve the public.
Stewart was replying to a question during a recent episode of Comedy Central’s “After the Cut,” a behind-the-scenes series related to the daily show, which asked if he would ever think about running for office.
See below:
The liberal host mentioned that many in the media, like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, frequently face similar questions.
“This question pops up often,” Stewart said, indicating that comments like “I think you should be president” follow closely after the phrase “screw you.”
“It’s almost like they’re mocking me, like something out of the Twilight Zone,” he joked.
He added, “But I completely relate to the sentiment. What’s going around us, me included, feels like a shared sense of powerlessness.”
Stewart then touched on how people have been comparing current political figures to Hitler. “No, he’s not. Here’s why: Hitler had a following. This guy does not,” he remarked, which was an unusual assertion.
Stewart proceeded to share a rather strange story about why he believes President Donald Trump lacks popularity. He recounted an encounter at a deli where the employee inquired about his sandwich order.
“In my town, many people have visited that deli,” he noted. “They’ve said plenty of awful things to me. For instance, I’d walk in and bring up some political topic, and now when I walk in, they simply ask, ‘What do you want for a sandwich?’
Stewart interpreted this ordinary interaction as proof that some who voted for Trump are regretting their choice. “That’s quite reassuring to me,” he concluded.
