Jon Stewart Critiques Trump’s Change on Non-Interventionism: “There’s Still Time to Address Warner Bros. Discovery”
In his first Monday night episode of *The Daily Show* this year, Jon Stewart critiqued President Donald Trump and his supporters for their shift from non-interventionism. This commentary follows the recent ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Returning from a holiday hiatus, the comedian remarked that the President appeared to have “removed a dangerous foreign dictator from power.” This was underscored by a display of images featuring various global autocrats, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Stewart humorously noted, “Not that one, they’re actually friends,” while also adding, “I believe these two have more of a *Heated Rivalry* vibe, if you know what I mean.”
Stewart further joked about Trump’s actions, suggesting he “reverse-ICE’d and actually imported Maduro to a jail in Brooklyn.”
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Regarding the uncertain outcomes of the U.S. intervention, Stewart stated, “No one knows how this operation is gonna work out, but based on the United States’ track record, my guess is we’re going to be really happy about this for a couple of weeks and then, 30 years from now, there will be a Venezuelan leftist revolution, and the new government will point to this moment as the reason our embassy there is on fire.” He likened the situation to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, emphasizing potential ramifications for future presidential administrations.
In his critique, Stewart expressed frustration over Trump’s transition from a perceived anti-interventionist stance to one focused on military engagement, attributing this shift to the nation’s interest in Venezuela’s oil reserves.
“Generally, in American history, when we intervene in another country, whether true or not, we come up with a high-minded pretense: liberating a people, spreading democracy, introducing baseball to the Japanese—they complained at first, but it was totally worth it. On what moral foundation will this conflict be framed?” he queried.
He continued his mockery of Trump, stating, “We can’t even be conspiracy theorists now! ‘I think they did it for the oil.’ ‘Yeah, no, I did it for the oil.’”
After airing a clip of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick discussing Venezuela’s resources as justification for intervention, Stewart questioned whether Trump might next focus on Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico. “Anything else you want to take over? I think there’s still some time to go after Warner Bros. Discovery,” he quipped. “I mean, America doesn’t have Netflix money, but we will after we get that sweet oil.”
Though Stewart showcased his signature sharp humor with pop culture references, he notably overlooked an opportunity to deliver a joke regarding the “hive-mind connection” between Trump and his supporters, stating, “There is no material on Earth more malleable than the hive-mind connection between Donald Trump and his acolytes.”
