Obama Pledges to Use Executive Order to Keep Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show”

As Jon Stewart prepares his imminent exit from The Daily Show, President Obama stopped by the set in New York on Tuesday to bid farewell to the longstanding host and promised to use his office’s power to prevent him from leaving.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving before me,” Obama said during his seventh and final visit with Stewart as host. “I’m going to issue an executive order: Jon Stewart cannot leave the show. It’s being challenged in the courts.”

“To me this is a states’ rights issue,” Stewart replied.

Following the opening banter, the two dived into more serious topics such as the Iran nuclear deal, the president’s relationship with the media, and the Middle East.

When asked about Donald Trump’s recent surge in the polls, Obama joked, “I’m sure the Republicans are enjoying Mr. Trump’s current dominance of their primary.”

Stewart’s last day is August 6th.

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DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY

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Please help with a donation today if you can—even just a few bucks helps. Not ready to donate but interested in our work? Sign up for our Daily newsletter to stay well-informed—and see what makes our people-powered, not profit-driven, journalism special.

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