The Daily Show host Trevor Noah hits back at John Kasich

Trevor Noah slams John Kasich for saying Donald Trump should be glad Jon Stewart is no longer hosting The Daily Show

Trevor Noah took to Twitter this week to voice his displeasure with a statement John Kasich recently made where he seemed to snub the new Daily Show host by implying that he was taking it easy on GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

The comments were made during a visit to ABC’s Good Morning America where the Ohio governor and presidential hopeful explained why he thinks Trump is unfit to be president, criticizing the businessman for his controversial statements about abortion. According to The Hill, Kasich also slammed Trump for suggesting the U.S. should ignore the Geneva Conventions, and for saying he would choose a Supreme Court justice that would investigate Hillary Clinton. He told the morning show:

"“We’re dealing in such a serious time with the problem of global security, terrorism and here at home very poor economic growth, many feeling as though they’ve got no future. You can’t operate like this. You are going to be president of the United States. People around the world must be having a field day, and you know what Donald ought to be happy about is that Jon Stewart’s not running ‘The Daily Show.'”"

Noah quickly fired back on social media by referencing Kasich’s inability to gain ground on his rivals Ted Cruz and Trump among Republican primary voters:

The remarks come as Noah has received criticism for failing to live up to the legacy of Stewart, with Variety’s Maureen Ryan writing a column this week where she described The Daily Show under the comedian as “harmless,” arguing that the show has lost its way since Stewart’s exit, while praising Daily Show alums John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Larry Wilmore and their respective late-night series.  She writes:

"“Ever since Noah took over six months ago, the show has assumed an air of easygoing chill. It’s not that he doesn’t tell reasonably good jokes now and then, but few, if any, are aimed at the jugular. And he rarely loses his expression of gentle bemusement. Given that the current American political season is more chaotic and unpredictable than any in recent memory, the show’s strange affability creates a feeling of cognitive dissonance. It’s as if our reliable attack dog had suddenly lost its teeth and self-medicated with Xanax. One of Noah’s main problems is that he treats his opening news round-up as if it were a stand-up set at a comedy club. Stewart’s pointed opening remarks often drove viewership, especially in an election year. But Noah’s routine is merely a string of middling, even groan-worthy jokes tied together with nothing more substantial than the host’s dimpled grin.”"

Next: The Daily Show fact checks Donald Trump's victory speech

Comedy Central recently defended the host and the show’s ratings – which have fallen 30% since Stewart’s departure – before an upfront presentation for advertisers where network bosses told the Hollywood Reporter that Noah reaches a diverse audience by giving voice to the millennial generation, noting that The Daily Show has expanded internationally, and has picked up steam on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah returns with new episodes this week at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central. This week’s guests include Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jerrod Carmichael, Angelica Ross and Juan Williams.