On this week’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart went after President Donald Trump for downplaying the consequences of his widespread tariffs, which has sent the global economy into a tail spin.
In a segment labeled “Trade Wars,” in reference to the sci-fi classic “Star Wars,” Stewart opened with a series of news clips outlining the effects of Trump’s global tariffs, which officially go into effect Wednesday. They reported that the stock market has lost “more than $6.5 trillion dollars in value” in response to the tariffs. One economist called the drop an “economic armageddon.”
“This turmoil could have lasting effects on the global economy, on everyday Americans, and most worryingly, the stock portfolios of members of Congress,” Stewart said. “Mr. President, now is the time to soothe a worried nation!”
Stewart then played another news clip that detailed a social media post from Trump. The post read, “Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid. Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!).”
“‘Panican?’ The genius who gave us classics like ‘Sleepy Joe’ and ‘Crooked Hillary’ just shit out, ‘You’re just a panican?’” Stewart joked. “How about ‘hystericrats?’ ‘Repussicans?’ How about ‘cryin-tologists?’ Did the overseas factory you had been sourcing your nicknames from get shut down during the tariff war?”
The late-night pundit then went after several of Trump’s supporters in the media, who seemed unbothered by the stock market crash. Stewart played clips from Fox News in which the network reporters said things like, “I would not worry at all,” and, “You know what, I don’t really care about my 401(k).”
“When did the right become so chill?” Stewart asked. “Aren’t you the ‘Bud Light is turning my kids trans’ folks? But economic meltdown and you’re getting all philosophical?”
Stewart ended the segment on a more serious note, digging into Trump for blaming the rest of the world for the global economy that the U.S. essentially created.
“We continue to blame everybody else in the world that we designed and policed after World War II,” Stewart said. “We’re the richest country in the world, ever! We’re not the world’s victims. If we have inequalities in this country, that’s on us. It’s not a supply problem, it’s not on fair trade for the most part. It’s an investment and distribution problem. It’s our fucking fault. And it’s not saying we can’t make adjustments and renegotiate things, but it didn’t have to be this reckless. You killed the hostage and then went, ‘Oh, ransom?’”
Watch the entire segment below.
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