Jon Stewart, host of "The Weekly Show" podcast, advised the White House press corps on Thursday to disregard Donald Trump and his statements, suggesting this approach would deny him the attention he desires most. Stewart posited that the press has a greater need for Trump than he does for them, and that current access to the former president is structured to his advantage, preventing meaningful follow-up questions and serving only as a platform for his rhetoric.
Stewart described the coverage of Trump as a "content factory" rather than a source of transparency. He characterized the press interactions as "pettifoggery" and "nonsense," a term he borrowed from former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly during one of their past debates. By ignoring Trump, Stewart argued, reporters could deny him the "center of the universe" status he craves.
His commentary was made in response to a question from his producer, Brittany Mehmedovic, about whether the press pool should cease following Trump, drawing a parallel to his aide Natalie Harp. Stewart's remarks were highlighted in a segment on "The Weekly Show" podcast, underscoring his view on the futility of engaging with Trump's pronouncements through traditional press channels.