On The Daily Show, host Jon Stewart took aim at former President Donald Trump’s recent remark about using the military to target the “enemy within,” suggesting that Trump’s words should be viewed as more than just rhetoric. Stewart stressed that the comment posed a potential threat to democracy.
During a recent episode, Stewart played a clip of Trump making the controversial statement, which has drawn widespread attention. Trump referred to “the enemy from within,” a phrase Stewart described as “quite threatening,” adding that it requires thorough analysis.
“That’s not fun-loving and mischievous,” Stewart said on his show. “That sounded quite threatening. That’s actually worthy of some real examination.”
Stewart warned that such comments should not be dismissed lightly and questioned the potential impact they could have on democratic processes.
To support his argument, Stewart showed a clip of Trump clarifying his statement, where he mentioned Democratic figures such as Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi as part of the “enemy within.” Stewart was visibly disturbed, questioning, “Are you out of your f**king mind? The former Speaker of the House is the enemy within?”
Stewart criticized Trump’s tendency to label his political opponents as enemies, further highlighting the dangers of such divisive rhetoric.
Stewart also took a swipe at Republican figures trying to soften Trump’s comment. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and House Speaker Mike Johnson both attempted to explain away Trump’s remarks by suggesting he was referring to criminal immigrants or violent gangs. However, Stewart wasn’t convinced.
“It’s exactly what he said. Not dots. Words,” Stewart emphasized, rejecting efforts to reinterpret Trump’s message.
In a moment of frustration, Stewart questioned whether Trump’s rhetoric can be trusted at all. He played clips of other Trump statements, asking, “Is any of the s**t Trump says real? How are we supposed to understand what’s bulls**t and what isn’t?”
Stewart concluded with a chilling reminder of Trump’s actions during the January 6 Capitol insurrection: “Remember that day he tried to overthrow the government? And I know it didn’t work, but ‘attempted murder’ isn’t the same thing as ‘never tried the murder.’”
Stewart’s commentary reflected growing concerns about Trump’s escalating rhetoric and its potential consequences for democracy in the United States.
