Jon Stewart took aim at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday night, mocking him as a “human flat tire” after a cringeworthy attempt at humor during a press conference about the ongoing government shutdown.
"New data came out today from KFF, and that is not Kentucky Fried French Fries. KFF," Schumer joked before laughing to himself and turning to Sen. Amy Klobuchar. "That’d be Kentucky French Fries, hm?" he added with a chuckle.
Stewart couldn’t resist tearing into the moment. "Who is that joke even for? Six-year-olds who watch C-SPAN?" he said. "What the f--- are you doing?! Chuck Schumer is a human flat tire. You just can’t — ‘Kentucky Fried French Fry.’ Look at Klobuchar! Poor Klobuchar." He compared her reaction to someone praying their parent won’t embarrass them in public.
Before roasting Schumer’s awkward joke, Stewart also mocked his over-the-top hand gestures. He played a clip of the senator pounding his fists while declaring, "Democrats are adamant that we must protect the healthcare of the American people."
"Um, good points," Stewart said dryly. "Not crazy about this," he added while mimicking Schumer’s hammering motions. He joked that Schumer should’ve stopped after his serious remarks. "But you’re going to keep talking, aren’t you?" he sighed before shredding the senator’s “Kentucky Fried French Fries” line.
This isn’t the first time Stewart has gone after Schumer. Back in February, he begged Democrats to stop “trotting Schumer out” as their spokesman after the senator warned that Trump’s tariffs could make beer and guacamole more expensive. "Your response to the trade war is to f---ing tell us guacamole is made of avocados?" Stewart said.
He played an old clip of Schumer holding up a Corona and an avocado while trying to make his point. "Democrats, can you please stop f---ing trotting Schumer out there every time Trump traverses into the unreal? He’s not good at this," Stewart urged.
The jabs continued in March when Stewart compared the Democratic Party to a stationary bike — “pedaling really hard and not going anywhere.” He recalled Schumer bragging about talking with Republicans “all the time” at the gym, setting up another punchline. "They’re only being agreeable with you because they want you to leave them alone on the stationary bike," Stewart said to roaring laughter.
For Stewart, Schumer remains an easy target — a veteran politician who, in his view, keeps turning serious moments into unintentional comedy.