Jon Stewart Praises Douthat’s Trump Interview on The Daily Show

Stewart devoted part of the November 9 episode of The Daily Show to Trump’s interview with Douthat, welcoming the correspondent’s challenges to the president. A clip showed Douthat noting Trump’s personal wealth had risen by $3 billion. Stewart joked that the exchange had made him look forward to watching the interview, despite his initial expectations.

The host also highlighted Douthat’s questions about Trump’s financial interests, including his co-ownership of a company with investors linked to the United Arab Emirates government. Douthat observed that Trump might have called a similar arrangement involving the Biden family corrupt. Stewart praised the correspondent for pressing the comparison.

Stewart poked fun at Trump’s answers to questions about what happens after death and whether he could forgive his enemies to reach heaven. Trump said he hated some of his enemies and did not expect that to change. Stewart also praised the program’s commercial timing after that exchange, saying the break heightened the moment’s drama. Earlier in the show, he celebrated Democratic gains in the midterms and joined comedian Jordan Klepper in criticizing Trump chief of staff Stephen Miller. Rachel Maddow appeared as a guest later in the episode.