Jon Stewart Skewers Democrats and Trump in a Scorching “Daily Show” Return

Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show after a brief hiatus, taking the stage with trademark bravado and biting wit. From poking fun at his freshly done hair to unleashing a relentless barrage of satire against both former President Donald Trump and Democratic leadership, Stewart’s monologue pulled no punches—and offered a sobering commentary on the current state of American politics.

After welcoming the audience with his usual gusto and self-deprecating humor (“I got my hair did”), Stewart turned to the news of the week, painting a darkly absurd portrait of Trump’s post-presidency behavior. In just a few days, Trump had deported Venezuelans to El Salvador, ignored a judge’s order, renditioned a student, and suggested mainstream media outlets should be criminalized. All of it, Stewart quipped, felt like “Trump’s world, and we’re just cowering in it.”

Yet, Stewart found time to mock Trump’s alleged victory in a golf tournament held at his own club—a feat Stewart compared to a Make-A-Wish kid becoming Batman and catching all the bad guys in a single day. “I’m opposed to anyone rolling back American democracy,” Stewart said, “but I do tip the cap to any 78-year-old winning a golf tournament… then having enough energy to bomb the shit out of Yemen.”

Democrats: Lions or Lambs?

While Trump drew his usual scorn, Stewart saved his sharpest daggers for the Democratic Party—particularly for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. At the center of Stewart’s critique was the recent government funding standoff, where Democrats had initially drawn a hard line against a continuing resolution (CR) proposed by Republicans. The resolution slashed funding for medical research, nursing homes, and veterans’ benefits—prompts that saw Democrats declaring, “Hell no!” and even “more hell no!”

But that supposed backbone dissolved fast.

Despite denouncing the bill in no uncertain terms, Schumer and other Democrats ultimately voted in favor of it, citing a desire to “minimize harm to the American people.” Stewart was incredulous. “But you had said it was terrible,” he pointed out. “Did you get anything in return?” As it turned out—nothing.

“You are a disgrace to Jewish stereotypes about financial negotiations,” Stewart said in a moment of stinging humor, blasting Schumer for failing to leverage his negotiating power. “That’s the whole point of us!”

The “Gym Strategy”

One of the most surreal moments in the monologue came when Stewart mocked Schumer’s proud explanation that he builds bipartisan relationships by chatting with Republicans while biking next to them at the Senate gym. “When you’re panting away in your shorts,” Schumer had said, “the inhibitions come off.”

To which Stewart deadpanned: “That’s your f***ing plan?”

He imagined a Republican suddenly confessing legislative willingness—and sexual secrets—mid-elliptical session. “Pedaling really hard and not going anywhere,” Stewart said, “is a great metaphor for the Democratic Party right now.” And he wasn’t done. “Also: ball sweat.”

Fever Dreams and Delusions

A core theme of Stewart’s takedown was the Democratic belief that Republican extremism is temporary—a fever that will “break” eventually. From President Obama to talking heads, the same refrain has echoed for over a decade: the fever will break, and Republicans will return to sanity.

Stewart wasn’t buying it. “If someone’s been running a fever since the aughts,” he argued, “that’s not a fever. That’s their default resting temperature.”

This belief, he said, allows Democrats to convince themselves that the GOP is still vulnerable—despite having achieved legislative victories, judicial appointments, and policy influence far beyond their numbers. “They’ve gotten everything they wanted,” Stewart said, “from fringe appointments to batshit policies, while Democrats are still waiting for a fever to break.”

27% Approval: The Democrats’ Grim Reality

Stewart hammered home the ineffectiveness of the Democratic strategy by pointing to recent polling. Democrats’ favorability had plummeted to a historic low—just 27%, compared to Trump’s 48%. Stewart illustrated the point with a mock demonstration using foam fingers: “This is them. This is you.” The Democratic foam hand flopped well below Trump’s.

“You’ve got to get Trump to lose 8 points just to be 13 points below him,” Stewart said. “Your approval is only 7 points above where it turns red and goes into low-power mode.”

The message: the Democratic Party isn’t just out of ideas—it’s out of touch.

TikTok Tactics and Get-Ready-with-Me Governance

In a moment that encapsulated Stewart’s argument that Democrats have no compelling counter-vision, he turned to a video from Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. In the clip, Jacobs blends political commentary with social media influencer-style “get ready with me” content. Stewart was visibly flabbergasted.

“This is how you’re reaching voters now?” he asked. “I’m terrified you’re one yellow light away from doing one of these with Dan Crenshaw.”

His concern wasn’t about the platform—TikTok can be a powerful tool—but the content. There’s no replacement, Stewart argued, for substance. If Democrats think they can combat an entrenched, ideologically driven Republican machine with lip gloss and podcast banter, they’re deluding themselves.

Beyond Messaging: Where’s the Vision?

The biggest indictment in Stewart’s monologue wasn’t that Democrats are losing—it’s why they’re losing. Republicans, he said, are executing a multi-decade ideological transformation of the country. Democrats, by contrast, are fixated on “messaging” rather than merit. There’s no counter-strategy, no compelling vision, just reactionary politics and social media gimmicks.

“Classifying [Republican extremism] as a fever,” Stewart warned, “excuses you from having to propose an alternative, coherent vision.” It’s a brutal truth, and one that Democrats, especially those in leadership, have yet to fully confront.

Final Thoughts: Stewart’s Call to Wake Up

Jon Stewart’s return to The Daily Show was a masterclass in comedic truth-telling. His skewering of Trump was expected—but his evisceration of Democratic complacency was more needed. With fiery humor, he forced viewers to confront an uncomfortable reality: Trump and the GOP are winning not just because of base manipulation or media dominance, but because they have a plan—and Democrats don’t.

If Stewart’s monologue had a thesis, it would be this: America isn’t suffering from a fever. It’s undergoing surgery with no opposition doctor in the room. And until Democrats stop waiting for a miracle and start building a vision, they’ll keep losing—on the budget, on the courts, on democracy itself.