In a recent episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart humorously addressed Donald Trump's mental state and foreign policy, sparking a wave of commentary from fellow late-night hosts. Stewart opened with a nod to Trump signing a bill for psychedelic drug research, joking about the president's own potential need for such treatments.
Stewart's Take on Trump's Psyche and Iran Dealings
Stewart highlighted a clip where Trump discussed ibogaine, a psychoactive drug, leading to a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms. Trump quipped, "Can I have some, please? I'll take it, whatever it takes." Stewart responded, "Oh wow. He's depressed, too," before consoling, "Hey, don't be depressed, sir. Trump won't be president forever!"
He delved deeper, noting moments in Oval Office gatherings that reveal Trump's psyche, suggesting they could be a starting point for mental health professionals. In another clip, Trump advised staying busy to avoid depression, which Stewart mocked as "outrunning the darkness."
Critique of Trump's Iran Strategy
Stewart then critiqued Trump's approach to Iran, describing it as a cycle of demands, threats, and premature declarations of victory. He argued this strategy allows Trump to claim success at any point, ultimately leading to a nuclear deal worse than the one he abandoned. Stewart warned this could result in a devastating war, costing thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, while eroding U.S. credibility.
As Trump moved on to threaten Cuba, Stewart labeled this "step 10: keep moving to outrun the darkness," emphasizing the president's impulsive nature.
Other Late-Night Hosts Weigh In
Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! also mocked Trump's flip-flopping on Iran, joking about the Strait of Hormuz being blocked more times than "Melania's bedroom door." He noted Trump's claim that the war is "going along swimmingly," quipping, "Yeah, they're swimming because no one can move their boats anymore."
Kash Patel Drinking Scandal
Kimmel turned to a bombshell report by The Atlantic alleging that FBI director Kash Patel drank excessively and was often unreachable. Patel has denied these claims. Kimmel laughed about Patel panicking over an IT issue, thinking he'd been fired, and joked about Seal Team Six conducting a wellness check due to his intoxication.
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show acknowledged the 4/20 holiday, suggesting that hitting a bong might be the only way to understand Trump's Iran strategy. He mocked Trump's immediate claims of victory after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, only for it to close again the next day. Colbert deadpanned about Trump's "Mr. Nice Guy" persona, highlighting his threats to destroy Iran's infrastructure.
Seth Meyers Returns to Chaos
Seth Meyers on Late Night returned from a three-week holiday to a chaotic news cycle, listing events like Iran closing the strait, gunboat attacks, and Trump firing Attorney General Pam Bondi. He criticized Trump for bullshitting his way through the war, playing a clip where Trump claimed Iran had "agreed to everything" while in Vegas, which Meyers dismissed as unreliable.
Overall, the late-night hosts collectively painted a picture of Trump's erratic leadership, using humor to underscore serious concerns about his mental state and foreign policy failures.
