Jon Stewart has always known how to cut through political absurdity with a razor-sharp edge. But on this week’s episode of The Weekly Show, the comedy legend took a detour from satire into something closer to exasperation — reacting to Donald Trump’s viral AI-generated video showing himself dumping feces on protestors from a fighter jet labeled “King Trump.”

“It’s not that I’m offended as an American,” Stewart said with a look of disbelief. “I’m offended as a comedian.”

The “Diarrhea Plane” Debacle

The bizarre video, posted last Saturday on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, featured the former president’s AI likeness piloting a military jet over the crowds of “No Kings” protestors, before releasing brown sludge — unmistakably meant to resemble feces — onto the peaceful demonstrators. The soundtrack? Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone.

The video was met with instant backlash and confusion — not just from critics of Trump, but from comedians like Stewart, who wondered aloud: What is the joke?

“You know, I appreciate satire,” Stewart said. “But what exactly is this? What’s the message? That the president is angry… so he responds by digitally crapping on people from a jet? I mean… is that the best the writers’ room could do?”

“What Is the Satire?”

Stewart, never one to shy away from political farce, focused his critique not just on the content of the video — but on the Republicans attempting to defend it.

“My favorite part is watching elected officials try to explain it,” Stewart said. “Mike Johnson — the Speaker of the House, little cowlick Mike Johnson — was asked about it. The man had to stand there and say something like, ‘The American people appreciate the president’s honesty… his reaction… of the diarrhea plane.’”

With mock sincerity, Stewart deadpanned:

“A good one, sir. Truly — a work of modern political art.”

Then, dropping into full sarcasm, he added:

“Oh, it’s diarrhea from a plane. I get it now. That clears everything up. Brilliant. Let’s give that an Emmy.”

The host’s critique underscored a broader frustration: when even the attempt at satire lacks clarity, intent, or — most crucially — comedic value, what exactly are we looking at?

Beyond the Laughs: “This Isn’t Satire. It’s a Meme with Power.”

Stewart’s commentary pointed to something larger than just a strange social media video: the blending of political propaganda and meme culture.

“This isn’t satire,” Stewart argued. “It’s a meme wielded by the most powerful person in the country. It’s not designed to provoke thought. It’s designed to dominate headlines, drown nuance, and get clicks. And unfortunately… it works.”

He went on to question whether the political defense of such stunts — framing them as “just jokes” — is now being used as a shield against responsibility.

“Satire is supposed to punch up. This isn’t satire. It’s a president digitally dropping sewage on American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights — and somehow we’re supposed to laugh with him?”

Classified Satire?

In classic Stewart fashion, the episode wasn’t without its share of absurdist humor. At one point, Stewart pivoted to the Pentagon’s recent clash with journalists over press restrictions and joked that perhaps Trump’s “diarrhea plane” video was actually a classified military program.

“Maybe it wasn’t a meme,” Stewart quipped. “Maybe that’s real footage and someone just leaked a top-secret ‘crap strike’ initiative. If so, someone’s going to jail. That’s way worse than a leaked Signal chat.”

A Satirical Collapse of Meaning

In the end, Stewart’s takedown wasn’t just about one video — it was about how political media has blurred the line between satire and absurdity, parody and power.

“It used to be that satire exposed corruption,” he said. “Now, corruption is satire — and we’re just supposed to shrug and scroll.”

He added:

“I didn’t think I’d get offended by a poop joke in 2025. But here we are.”

Final Thoughts: When the Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

For years, Jon Stewart has been one of America’s most trusted comedic voices during times of political chaos. But Thursday night’s Weekly Show episode captured something rare: a moment when even a master satirist struggled to make sense of a political culture increasingly driven by provocation rather than principle.

Trump’s AI “diarrhea plane” video wasn’t just a gross joke — it was, to many, a symbol of how low the bar has fallen. And for Stewart, the most damning thing wasn’t the video itself — it was the realization that no one in power seemed to think it mattered.

“In the end,” Stewart said, “I guess the joke’s on us.”