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Jon Stewart opened Daily show On Monday, he launched criticism of President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran.
During his opening monologue (below), the comedian mocked what the show dubbed “Mess O’Potamia: America’s Next Top Muddle.”
Stewart let the bombs fly, speaking about Trump’s inconsistent communications and Congress’ lack of buy-in on the issue.
At one point, Stewart played clips that aired during the 2024 election of some on the right saying Trump would be a “peace through strength” president and keep the United States out of war. This was followed by clips collected since Friday of Trump supporters praising the strike.
“How quickly the right is shifting from ‘peace through strength’ to ‘peace through war,'” Stewart said. “And we’re all fighting a war with no clear goal, no end in sight, and all at the whims of Donald Trump.”
Stewart quipped…
— Its name is “Operation Epic Fury.”: “Epic Rage?! Have the Paul Brothers released another energy drink?”
— In the video Trump posted announcing the attack from Mar-a-Lago while wearing a white baseball cap“This is how we do it? Mar-a-Lago basement? No lighting? You don’t even have one of those dramatic halo lights? And this is what we’re wearing? Jacket, no tie, unbuttoned shirt? Looks like a father of the bride settling down with a caterer? It’s not obviously a bug, but a baseball cap? We’re going with a baseball cap to a war of our choice? Oh, I’ll come down and declare war.” “Don’t forget the hat I brought you, which is bigger.” Out of your head.”…We should at least be thankful that the hat is tipped forward.
— 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US airstrike: “I doubt he’s anywhere near an obvious location, given the prior surveillance he was under… He stayed home?! Old people are so stubborn. Looks like America should have started an entire war to kill an 86-year-old man in ill health, not wait, I don’t know, three weeks to let saturated fats do their work.” (Stewart has also criticized studio audience noise sympathetic to Khamenei – “Sorry, am I being too harsh on Khamenei? A murderous dictator… who took the lives of his own people?”).
— The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the war powers resolution on Thursday“Next Thursday?! The war has already happened! This is the whole Trump presidency, he does what he wants, and a few days later, Congress says: ‘Excuse me!’ Close your window. Excuse me, sir?! You are not allowed to demolish the east wing without permission from the homeowners association. “We’ll let it go this time.” The US Congress is like male nipples. Why are you there? What are you doing? Nothing! You’re doing nothing!
— Regarding Iran launching strikes on other countries in the Middle East“So let me make it clear: America and Israel attack Iran. The Iranian response is to attack everyone. You know, after being in a bar fight, I’m sure the worst thing you could do in a one-on-one match is smack everyone.”
— After showing a clip of Trump rambling on about random topics during a press conference about the war: “I can’t believe our bombs are now smarter than our president.”
On Friday, Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury” targeting Iran to destroy its missile production, naval and nuclear capabilities following alleged “imminent threats.” The conflict led to the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, severe damage to Iran’s infrastructure, and the deaths of four American service members. Trump said the campaign could last for weeks and did not rule out the use of US forces on the ground.
