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Jon Stewart blasted President Trump for his handling of the Israel-Iran war — telling his Comedy Central audience on Monday that the “dealmaker-in-chief” was at fault for being on the verge of striking a deal with the Islamic Republic before things went “bomby.”
“What the f–k are we doing?” Stewart, host of the network’s “Daily Show,” said during Monday night’s monologue.
“What happened with Iran? Weren’t we about to make a nuclear deal? Wasn’t our dealmaker-in-chief making a deal to keep Iran from enriching uranium? Actually, didn’t we have a deal before our dealmaker-in-chief so wisely pulled us from that deal? Why did this have to go bomby on Iran now?” Stewart said.
He followed up by showing a 2012 clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that Iran was only months away from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“Iran is months away from having a nuclear bomb, says Netanyahu… in 2012,” Stewart said, rolling his eyes.
“Netanyahu talks about Iran getting nukes the way I talk about the Knicks winning a title.”
As tensions flare between Tehran and Jerusalem, Stewart suggested that US involvement — whether direct or indirect — could have severe repercussions.
“Of course, a hot war between Israel and Iran could threaten the United States. It’s best if we stay out of it,” he said, before airing a clip of Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisting that the US was “not involved” in the bombing campaign.
“Phew. We’re not involved. That’s good,” Stewart deadpanned, before immediately cutting to a news report confirming that Trump had been “informed beforehand” of the Israeli strikes.
“Good neighbor policy. I mean, we were informed, they let us know. Still not being involved, really,” he quipped, visibly irritated.
The segment escalated as Stewart played footage of Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow claiming that the former president gave Israel a “green light” to strike Iranian targets.
Stewart mocked the distinction: “We were told, we approved, it’s still Israel’s game.”
But the moment that brought the room to stunned laughter came when Stewart played a final report revealing that Israel used American equipment in the opening stages of its assault on Iran.
“What the f–k are we doing?!” Stewart shouted.
Trump said Tuesday that he wants a “real end” to the nuclear standoff with Iran and suggested he may dispatch high-ranking US officials to engage with the Islamic Republic, even as Israeli airstrikes on Iran entered their fifth consecutive day.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz invoked the fate of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could meet a similar end.
“I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and fire missiles at Israeli citizens,” Katz told senior Israeli military commanders. Not long after his remarks, Iranian state media reported that an explosion had occurred in Tehran.
Trump, speaking to the press after leaving the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday, signaled that Israel had no plans to scale back its military campaign.
“You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far,” he said.
As tensions escalated, Trump mentioned that US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice President JD Vance could be sent to engage in talks with Iranian officials.
Despite the growing military conflict, the White House has maintained that Trump is still pushing for a nuclear deal with Iran.
Trump left the G7 gathering earlier than planned, but insisted his early exit was unrelated to efforts toward brokering a deal between Iran and Israel, contrary to claims from French President Emmanuel Macron that the US had initiated a ceasefire proposal.
Trump posted on Truth Social late Monday, stating that something “much bigger” was underway.
Inside Iran, the fallout from Israel’s strikes appears to be reshaping Khamenei’s power structure.
Several of his closest military and intelligence advisers have reportedly been killed, according to five individuals familiar with the matter.
One of those sources, who regularly participates in meetings with Khamenei, warned that the possibility of a strategic misstep is now “extremely dangerous” for Iran’s internal stability and defense posture.
English (US)