In an interview with Charlie Rose, comedian Jon Stewart talked about the recent election and his thoughts about why Donald Trump was elected president.
In Stewart’s view, both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for Trump’s election for different reasons. Stewart, who supported Hillary Clinton, told CBS' Rose “the same country that elected Donald Trump elected Barack Obama,” and added president-elect Trump was not just a repudiation of Democrats, but of Republicans as well.
“I thought Donald Trump disqualified himself at numerous points. But there is now this idea that anyone who voted for him is ... has to be defined by the worst of his rhetoric. Like, there are guys in my neighborhood that I love, that I respect ... who are not afraid of Mexicans, and not afraid of Muslims, and not afraid of blacks. They’re afraid of their insurance premiums,” Stewart said, calling it “hypocrisy” to make people into a “monolith.”
He lamented the fact that although Trump ran as an outsider, Republicans will “reap the benefits of his victory.” He characterized Americans as fighting not just against each other, but against ourselves throughout this election process.
“Nature is tribal. We’re fighting against thousands of years of human behavior and history to create something that no one’s ever — that’s what’s exceptional about America,” he said, adding that it’s not easy. “It’s an incredible thing.”
“[Trump] wants to make American great again ... but nobody said to him, 'Well, what is it that makes America great?'" he told Rose.
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