BURSTComedian Jon Stewart accused President Trump of "happily" setting off a "tinderbox" in Los Angeles amid days of protests against the president's immigration policies.
"The Daily Show" host railed against Trump for deploying 4,000 National Guard troops in California and knocked the administration's recent push to ramp up immigrant arrests.
“So now, predictably, these non-targeted, much broader deportation efforts in cities that feel very connected to the immigrant population is a tinderbox. And Trump happily lights the fuse,” the comedian said on his show.
Stewart asserted Trump was focused on protestors to help drown out the attention drawn by his feud with tech giant Elon Musk after the former adviser accused the president of being named in documents pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019.
“Why escalate this s--- now?” Stewart asked. “Oh, right — Elon Musk is now accusing Trump of being in the Epstein files.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded Musk's claims last seek, arguing he was upset over the Trump agenda bill being reviewed by the Senate and called the spat "unfortunate." Musk's post was later removed from his account.
Stewart on Monday urged the Trump administration to shift its focus from legislative priorities to the needs of people on the ground in California.
“It’s an explosive situation on the cusp of federalism versus states’ rights, border control versus due process, terrifyingly militarized sweeps versus hard-working people in local communities,” he said.
“The United States Marines versus the Postmates guy who brought you an egg sandwich. It’s going to require a deft and firm, experienced and wise — I think you know where I’m going with this … A deft touch from leadership in Washington.”
Local leaders including California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) have pushed back on Trump's moves and urged for local law enforcement to handle the protests.