After another weekend of No Kings rallies — with some 7 million in attendance to protest President Donald Trump and his administration — Jon Stewart took up the mantle on Monday night’s episode of The Daily Show to mock Fox News‘ dramatic coverage leading up to the event.
“And so this weekend we sat in our bunkers, doors locked, windows boarded, muskets and cyanide pills at the ready, prepared for whatever the hardest-core had in store. Do your worst! Display your Marxism to its fullest,” he said, before displaying video clips of attendees dancing in inflatable costumes at the rallies.
“Actually, it was kind of an incredible turnout that was somewhat inspiring: 7 million Americans, zero mass shootings!” Stewart said to massive claps from the audience. “That’s just sad,” he added of the enthusiastic crowd reaction. “No mass shootings? ‘My God.’”
Throwing another jab at the right-wing news network, which maintained its negative coverage after the protests were largely jubilant and peaceful, the host quipped: “Make up your mind, Fox. You complained it would be a terrifyingly shit-your-pants protest. And now you are complaining about how boringly unpants-shitting it was.”
Specifically, Fox News lamented that the gatherings mainly comprised Boomers.
“Extra, extra! Read all about it: This country has too many angry old white people, says — hold on — Fox News,” Stewart joked. “Fox News says, ‘Why are old white people so angry?’ Fox News mad that there are so many old white people in America. I don’t think Fox News is mad, I think they’re jealous.”
Depicting archival coverage of the Tea Party protests during the Obama era, the political comic then added sarcastically: “Imagine a bunch of old white people in costumes angrily protesting the direction and overreach of an ever-encroaching federal government. I mean, preposterous. That’s in no way a movement that could sweep the midterms and then be harnessed by a charismatic demagogue to remake an entire political party. I mean, it’s laughable.”
Calling the No Kings protests “unfocused gatherings” with a significant amount of “political potential,” Stewart likened the day of dissent to “a great day for democracy, and apparently, an even better day for people across this country who always got cast as ensemble in their high school’s musical.”
Stewart concluded his show by addressing the umbrage the far-right takes with Trump’s characterization as a monarch-like figure: “Look, maybe Trump isn’t an all-powerful king, the kind who can do whatever he wants, but he’s undeniably king-adjacent, king-esque, moving for more. He’s the imitation crab of kings right now. The ‘I can’t believe it’s not king.’”
As a result, he noted Republicans are mad at the characterization because they view the GOP leader as more so a “deity” and Christlike figure, meaning that calling him a “king” is actually a “demotion.” Stewart then wrapped his monologue with a “Jesus or Trump” segment, which featured quotes by either “Jesus H. Christ or Donald J. Trump” for the audience to guess accurately. This included scripture about loving one’s enemies versus excerpts from Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which he made vulgar comments about pursuing women.
Watch the episode below: