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Jon Stewart critiques media’s focus on Trump antics over dangerous rhetoric
A surreal 2024 election fever dream
On Monday’s episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart took a critical look at Donald Trump’s recent campaign antics. The former president’s staged shift at a McDonald’s and his crude comments about former pro golfer Arnold Palmer in Pennsylvania dominated headlines. However, Stewart had an entirely different perspective from most media outlets.
Stewart referred to this period as the “fever dream” portion of the 2024 election, chiding the media for ignoring what he considers far more dangerous elements of Trump’s rhetoric, such as calling elected officials the “enemy within.”
The theater of Trump’s 2024 campaign
“Kamala Harris is out there sweating the details over her new opportunity economy. Trump’s just out there farting around,” Stewart remarked sarcastically. He broke down Trump’s campaign tactics: “Ave Maria dance party, ‘I’m going to deport everybody,’ football tailgate, blame the Jews if I lose, McDonald’s drive-thru.” Stewart conveyed exasperation with the media, suggesting that they should be focused on more critical issues than Trump’s McDonald’s visits.
The rhetoric of “enemy within”
Stewart aired clips of both the McDonald’s event and news anchors reacting. However, he directed the spotlight to more dangerous comments made by Trump. In a recent interview, Trump referred to a dire internal threat: “We have two enemies. We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within,” citing China, Russia, and even naming Rep. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“We have some very bad people. We have some sick people — radical left lunatics,” said Trump, suggesting extreme measures such as using the National Guard or military.
Stewart sharply countered, “That’s not fun-loving and mischievous. That sounded quite threatening. That’s actually worthy of some real examination.”
GOP leaders downplay Trump’s comments
Stewart expressed frustration towards Republican leaders like Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and House Speaker Mike Johnson for dismissing Trump’s extreme comments. He showed a clip of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu stating, “He’s not talking about using the military to attack people who disagree with him politically.”
In an outburst of frustration, Stewart shouted, “He is literally saying that! He is literally saying that! What are you talking about?” He pounded his desk, highlighting the increasing difficulty in discerning what is genuine or exaggerated in Trump’s statements. Kamala Harris must produce a thorough, detailed plan for the opportunity economy. In contrast, Trump’s campaign thrives on the emotional responses he elicits, irrespective of the truth.
A history of dangerous behavior
Stewart reminded viewers of Trump’s attempt to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021. “Remember that day he tried to overthrow the government? And I know it didn’t work, but ‘attempted murder’ isn’t the same as ‘never tried the murder,’” Stewart said, stressing the point with chilling effectiveness.
This raises the unsettling notion that Trump’s absurdity might render him benign, a misconception that overlooks the authoritarian undertones of his actions and speech.
Trump’s impact on 2024 election and media response
In a moment of dark humor, Stewart played a shorter, TikTok-friendly clip encapsulating Trump’s unusual mix of clownish behavior and authoritarian intentions. He featured Trump’s ambiguous response about accepting the 2024 election results, only if it was a “fair” election.
Similarly, Jimmy Kimmel echoed Stewart’s sentiments in an interview with MSNBC, reflecting on the misplaced focus within the media. Kimmel highlighted the generational trust in news anchors, a trust now exploited by certain networks to propagate misinformation.
Absurd claims and lingering doubts
Despite the outlandish claims, such as Trump’s unsubstantiated statements about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio, these narratives perpetuate confusion and suspicion among the public. Kimmel lamented the repetitive cycle of such disinformation, emphasizing its relentless impact on his own psyche.
Stewart concluded his segment in a dreamlike manner, a nod to the surreal and absurd nature of Trump’s ongoing comments and actions. His vivid demonstrations serve as a call to refocus on scrutinizing the genuine threats posed by incendiary rhetoric rather than getting lost in the spectacle.
Stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and follow our updates to keep yourself informed about the ever-evolving political landscape. Share this article with others and maintain the conversation on what truly matters in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
