“Daily Show” host Jon Stewart had some company on Monday night when former correspondent John Oliver interrupted the monologue to deliver a message about America’s hard turn toward monarchy and imperialism.
Stewart had been detailing President Donald Trump’s end-run around the Constitution and the unwillingness by anyone in Congress to challenge that power grab.
“It’s been a good run, America,” Stewart said. “It looks like we’re becoming less like the constitutional republic it’s been for 250 years and more like the monarchy that we all fought and escaped from.”
That’s when Oliver ― who was born in Britain and now holds dual US-UK citizenship ― emerged with a slow clap.
“Are you here to offer America your wisdom and counsel?” Stewart asked.
“Oh no no no, Jon,” he said. “I am here to gloat.”
Oliver, who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” on HBO, mockingly welcomed America to its monarchy era and urged the nation to embrace it because “kings get shit done.”
“Now, is it stuff that you want done? Not necessarily,” Oliver admitted. “But they do move quick. They taste cumin at lunch and they’ve taken over an entire continent by dinnertime.”
Stewart objected, saying the “imperial model” isn’t right for America.
“Have you seen anything America has done over the last 50 years?” Oliver fired back. “Because for a country that doesn’t want to be an empire, you’re doing a pretty fucking good impression of one right now.
He offered up some receipts:
“Invasions, economic exploitations, and now suggesting turning Gaza into a beachfront casino? Even King George would’ve been like, ‘I don’t know guys. Feels like the situation’s a bit more complicated than that ― and I’m literally dying of medieval brain disease’.”
“We really have become our father,” Stewart lamented.
“Yeah, you have” Oliver said. “We couldn’t be more proud.”
See more in the Monday night “Daily Show” monologue: