Jon Stewart got candid about his future on “The Daily Show” at the New Yorker Festival on Sunday, telling editor David Remnick that he was “working towards staying.”
Stewart’s current contract with Comedy Central (now owned by the newly merged Paramount Skydance Corporation) expires in December. Many are wondering about Stewart’s future on The Daily Show, especially after the company announced that CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May 2026. Mr. Colbert and Mr. Stewart have criticized the merger and President Donald Trump on their shows, including the settlement between Paramount and Mr. Trump over Kamala Harris’ “60 Minutes” interview.
However, Stewart confirmed to Remnick that he is considering extending his “Daily Show” contract. “We’re working towards staying,” Stewart said (via The Daily Beast). “Look, the other thing to remember is that it’s not as clear as this… They’ve already done things that I’m angry about. But if I had any integrity, maybe I would stand up and say, ‘I quit.'” Or maybe the honest thing to do is to stay there and keep fighting in the trenches. ”
Stewart added: “Don’t compromise on what you do and keep doing it until someone tells you to quit.”
During his interview with Remnick, Stewart also criticized the Trump administration. “Donald Trump came to power for a reason, and that’s because in the minds of the general public, the government no longer serves the interests of the people it purports to represent,” Stewart said. “It’s a broad and deep feeling, and it helps when people come and go, when the system is rigged and people think, ‘Oh, that’s it.'”
Late-night hosts such as Stewart, Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, who was fired from ABC’s show in September over comments made after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, have come under intense scrutiny, but Stewart insisted they are not “victims of this administration.”
“We’re making certain things visible, but the victims are people who don’t have a voice and are forcibly removed from the streets by hooded officials,” Stewart said. “They are victims of this administration.”
