Jon Stewart returned to the Daily Show chair to cover the 2024 election. He brought back his typical mixture of earnestness and satire, but the earnestness proved to win out during the comedian's show on Election Day.
Stewart went live while votes were being counted, and tacitly acknowledged that things were not leaning in Kamala Harris' favor. Donald Trump would later prove the victor. It was not what the Daily Show host wanted to see, but as the show ended, he implored viewers not to be deterred by the outcome of the election.
Stewart was frustrated by early election results
Jon Stewart noted the impulse of Harris supporters to lament the state of the nation, and assert that things have never been as bad as they are going to be, but the comedian tried to find a silver lining of inspiration given the circumstances.
He didn't let viewers off easy, mind you. He played footage of Donald Trump's exit from the White House in 2021, and a montage of reporters asserting that he would never be allowed to step foot in the White House again. "F*k," he plainly stated.
Stewart placed emphasis on future generations
But Stewart did not give up hope. He buckled down, and gave an emotional plea to viewers to keep fighting, no matter the hardships that lie ahead. "I promise you, this is not the end," he said. "And we have to regroup." He also noted the importance of staying strong for future generations:
"We have to continue to fight and continue to work day in and day out to create the better society for our children, for this world, for this country that we know is possible."
It was a sentiment that was not overly sentimental, nor was it cynical. Jon Stewart chronicled the election, and he will continue to see the consequences of the 2024 election through with us. He has even extended his contract with the Daily Show, to ensure that he will be present to continue the fight from behind his desk.