Jon Stewart’s Unexpected Praise for Trump’s Mental Health Initiatives

Jon Stewart often pokes fun at President Donald Trump on his show, but this week he found himself in the unusual position of praising the president for new mental health measures aimed at helping veterans.

On Saturday, an executive order was signed, focusing on accelerating research and dismantling barriers to psychedelic substances such as ibogaine, psilocybin, and LSD—potential therapies for serious issues like PTSD and depression.

Stewart acknowledged that “credit where credit is due” is rare for him, but he noted that the president’s actions could significantly impact struggling veterans.

The order directs FDA Commissioner Marty McCulley to expedite the review process for psychedelic drugs that receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation for mental health treatment. Furthermore, both the FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration are to establish pathways for patients to access experimental psychedelics.

As part of the initiative, the Department of Health and Human Services, alongside the FDA, will collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and private entities to boost participation in clinical trials and improve data sharing around psychedelics. There’s also a budget of $50 million allocated for state-level research on ibogaine.

According to a fact sheet from the White House, more than 14 million American adults experience serious mental health issues, with alarmingly high suicide rates. Notably, veterans face a suicide rate that surpasses that of the general adult population by more than double.

During the signing ceremony, podcaster Joe Rogan mentioned that the discussion surrounding the executive order gained momentum after he reached out to Trump with information about ibogaine.

Trump recognized Rogan’s contribution, saying, “Logan wrote me a little note about this, and I asked him to look into it.” He highlighted the involvement of professionals in the decision-making process, underscoring the seriousness of the initiative.

In signing the order, Trump emphasized the potential of these experimental treatments to significantly improve the lives of individuals grappling with severe mental illness, especially veterans.

On an episode of his show shortly after the signing, Stewart remarked that while he doesn’t often grant praise, “the president took solid actions over the weekend.” He noted it was a good step toward aiding veterans dealing with various mental health challenges, including addiction.

In a moment of self-reflection, Stewart caught himself falling back into old habits of criticism and acknowledged, “I’m sorry. I’m falling into old habits. Good. You did a good thing. I was picky. I’m sorry.” He concluded by stating that many people would benefit from this initiative.