Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show last night and immediately addressed the wave of speculation that circulated online about Donald Trump’s health. Over the past week, rumors had spread that the former president might have died, fueled by a stretch of time in which he was not seen in public. Stewart acknowledged the conspiracies, but suggested there's more evidence than just Trump's sudden disappearance and reappearance.
When President Trump finally did resurface after a stretch out of the public eye, his physical appearance did little to dispel any concerns about his health. Stewart pointed to visible signs that have sparked discussion, including signs of swelling, discoloration, and a bruised-looking hand on Trump. Stewart observed, “Something is up with his health,” while also sarcastically framing the conversation in the context of how people react to physical changes in public figures. “This is the problem with our superficial Instagram culture," the Daily Show host said. "We have unrealistic expectations … about the amount of fluid our bodies should be able to clear subcutaneously.”
But Stewart argued that President Trump's physical appearance isn't the only evidence that could fuel conspiracies about the leader's health. The late-night host asked his audience to pay close attention to how "whenever any of his biggest supporters are with him, it sounds like they’re saying goodbye.”
Stewart described how people close to Trump often approach him by indulging his wishes, comparing it to fulfilling the requests of an ill child. “The whole vibe around this president is very Make-A-Wish kid," the comedian teased. "Everyone who shows up to his office tries to make one of his dreams come true.”
The Daily Show star wasn't done there as he continued to explore why Trump's circle seem so desperate to please the president. If it's not out of empathy, then perhaps it just comes down to fear. “I’m beginning to think everybody treats Trump like this, not because he's the Make-A-Wish kid, but because he's that Twilight Zone kid that anytime somebody made him mad, he sent them out to the cornfield.”
For viewers, the bigger question may be whether Trump’s appearance becomes Stewart’s latest running bit, or if this was simply a way to ease back into the season. After all, Stewart has mocked Trump’s loyalty bubble many times before, and even he seems aware it risks sounding like a broken record. But as long as Trump’s public presence and the behavior of those around him continue to generate headlines, it’s unlikely Stewart will resist taking another swing.