Overview

• Jon Stewart's latest Daily Show segment, 'How Authoritarian Is We?', critiques Donald Trump's authoritarian style as missing the 'ruthless competence' seen in other global figures like Putin and Xi.
• Stewart humorously contrasts Trump's opulent aesthetic, such as gold cherubs in the Oval Office, with inconsistent policy decisions that undermine his image of authority.
• The segment highlights Trump's erratic tariff policies, including a 25% tax on imported vehicles followed by a 90-day pause, which caused market instability and drew widespread criticism.
• Stewart emphasizes that authoritarianism is not just about power and policies but also about maintaining an image of decisiveness and effectiveness, which he argues Trump lacks.
• By blending satire and political critique, Stewart connects Trump's leadership style to broader questions about the role of aesthetics and competence in modern authoritarianism.