The recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham became the starting point for Jon Stewart’s latest criticism of Washington’s political leadership. During Monday’s episode of The Daily Show, the comedian expanded the discussion beyond Congress, pointing to President Donald Trump as part of what he described as the country’s growing age crisis in government. The segment focused on the increasing age of elected officials across the federal government.
Jon Stewart makes Donald Trump the face of Washington’s age crisis
Jon Stewart argued that President Donald Trump has become a symbol of Washington’s growing age problem during Monday’s episode of The Daily Show. Pointing to the ages of several senior officials, Stewart questioned why the country’s highest offices continue to be occupied by increasingly older politicians.
The comedian raised the issue while reacting to the recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s planned return to Congress after spending a month in the hospital. Stewart noted that Graham had become the sixth member of Congress to die during the current term, prompting him to question the state of the legislature.
“What the f—?! This term? He’s the sixth member of Congress to die this term? Six? If this were any other business, they’d shut it down to figure out what the f— is going on,” Stewart said. He followed the remark by adding, “Six of them are dead. My god, those are PETCO gerbil numbers.”
Stewart then connected the discussion to the broader age of Washington’s leadership. Referring to Trump and several other senior elected officials, he said, “And not to put too fine a point on it, but the last person to speak to Graham is our 80-year-old president.
The governor who chooses Graham’s replacement is 79.” He went on to cite the ages of other lawmakers before concluding, “The entire f—— Congress is falling apart due to a lack of not just political will, but bone density.”
Stewart maintained that his criticism was not directed at older people themselves, acknowledging that “people age differently.” However, he questioned why the country continues to accept what he called “this level of national frailty in our lawmaking.”
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
