Jon Stewart on Trump Election: Republicans Will 'Come to Jesus' About Government's Power

For his first interview since the election, Jon Stewart challenges Trump to explain what makes America "great" and predicts Republicans' epiphany

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For his first interview since the President-elect started rounding out his transition team with some of white nationalists' favorite people ever, former Daily Show host Jon Stewart expressed his anger toward the GOP's cynicism and his fear for a nation that's warring against itself. Speaking with Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning Thursday, Stewart explained that the election was a "reaction" to both Democrats and Republicans.

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"I don't believe we are a fundamentally different country today than we were two weeks ago," Stewart said. "The same country with all its grace and flaws, and volatility, and insecurity, and strength, and resilience exists today as existed two weeks ago. The same country that elected Donald Trump elected Barack Obama. I feel badly for the people for whom this election will mean more uncertainly and insecurity. But I also feel like this fight has never been easy."

Though Stewart feels the President-elect is "not a Republican," Republicans will of course consciously benefit from his rise to power. "They will reap the benefit of his victory," Stewart told Rose. "I will guarantee you Republicans are going to come to Jesus now about the power of government."

Stewart also urged frustrated voters to look back at this nation's history for some context on how the next four years may play out. "Make America Great Again," the nauseating slogan attached to the President-elect's campaign, could also use a proper, context-based explanation. "He wants to make America great again," Stewart said. "But nobody said to him, 'Well, what is it that makes America great?'"

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