Jon Stewart opened Monday’s episode of The Daily Show by noting the intense excitement in New York ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. He said the city’s support for the Knicks was nearly universal, then pivoted to the online reaction surrounding Elmo, the New York-born Sesame Street character, after the Muppet posted that he hoped both teams would have fun. Stewart turned the moment into a long comedic riff about Elmo’s supposed gambling habits, joking that the character had betrayed New Yorkers and mocking the idea of a neutral stance from a hometown icon.
The Knicks lost the game 115-111, despite the high-profile attention surrounding the matchup. Stewart also joked that the contest had become such a major event that even the president of the United States had caught “Knicks fever,” satirizing his appearance and coloring in Knicks-themed fashion.
Stewart then shifted to Donald Trump and criticized him for abruptly ending an interview with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker after she pressed him for evidence to support claims that the 2020 election had been rigged. Stewart ridiculed Trump’s decision to walk out, describing it as a sign of extreme fragility and inability to tolerate difficult questions. He framed the moment as a contrast between Welker’s straightforward reporting and Trump’s hostility toward scrutiny.
He also mocked the early portion of the interview, which began with discussion of the rain outside, saying the atmosphere initially resembled a light, almost romantic exchange before turning into a confrontation. Stewart said Trump’s departure had nothing to do with the weather and joked that rain is the natural enemy of his hairstyle. He then criticized Welker for suggesting that Trump’s anger may have been caused by the weather, arguing that this explanation softened the real reason for his reaction.
Closing the segment, Stewart said Trump was not upset because of rain but because he was challenged directly. He suggested that media figures should stop excusing Trump’s behavior in order to maintain access, and instead acknowledge that his response reflected his refusal to answer difficult questions.
