Monday was noteworthy, albeit for two somewhat discordant reasons: it marked the acknowledgement of the presidential election results for the 2024 year, while also coinciding with the puzzlingly unforgettable fourth commemoration of the January 6th incident at the U.S. Capitol. Not one to miss an opportunity for derision, Jon Stewart, known for his role as host for The Daily Show, was prompt to acknowledge these events in his Monday evening commentary.
Stewart began his monologue on a staggeringly prescient note, acknowledging the historic relevance of the day while also irreverently relating it to the snowfall in Washington, D.C. He compared the annoyance of slowed traffic to the upheaval caused by the 2021 incident at the Capitol, expressing his relief that this particular snowfall brought less upheaval and disruption.
He further insinuated that the average American didn’t care or even know much about the significance of the January 6th certification ceremony until chaos unfolded in 2021. Though his jest was coated in sarcasm, it reflected how the broader public rhetoric was driven more by political upheaval than by understanding of democratic processes.
The irony didn’t end there. Kamala Harris, Vice President, had to perform ‘master of ceremonies’ as Congress confirmed the election’s decision. Defeating her in the November electoral run was President-elect Donald Trump, making her role indubitably embarrassing, as per Stewart’s comments.
The ensuing scene at the Congress was nothing short of theatrical yet tragic when Harris certified Trump’s victory in Florida. The Republicans’ standing ovation, Stewart conjectured, was surely a tough pill for Harris to swallow. Finding solace in sarcasm, he likened the situation to witnessing one’s own funeral while the mourners publicly rejoice.
Another embarrassing moment followed when Harris announced her votes from California to a thunderous applause. Stewart then unleashed a volley of cynicism, suggesting that Harris might still stand a chance, only if she managed to ‘discover’ a substantial number of votes in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
His humor notwithstanding, Stewart expressed ostensible admiration for Harris’s perceived gracefulness during the ceremony. While creating an allusion to her ‘commitment’ to ensuring a peaceful transition of power, he wrapped his assertion in heavy strains of irony.
The uneventful unfolding of the certification ceremony seemed to elicit a sense of surprise from Stewart. However, he couldn’t resist making a snide remark about how smoothly the democratic process went when everyone accepted their defeat in a non-petulant manner. It was a veered reference to someone who will remain unnamed.
Trump’s singular role in directing his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, following his defeat against Joe Biden, was a topic that couldn’t be bypassed. The protests escalated into an unprecedented breach of the Capitol building’s security, culminating in a chaotic scene that forced lawmakers to seek safety.
Harris, on that fateful day, found herself at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, when a pipe bomb was discovered in the vicinity. This led to her hasty evacuation from the headquarters, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
The subsequent impeachment of Trump by the House of Representatives and his charge of ‘incitement of insurrection,’ albeit later acquitted by the Senate, served as another titbit in the saga. However, their decision did little to repair the damage to democratic values and principles inflicted that day.
In a throwback to the tumultuous occasion, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison released a statement that attempted to keep the spirit of democracy intact. However, the display of affinity for democratic values came across as trite considering the events that unfolded four years prior.
Harrison’s assertion of the peaceful transfer of power being a linchpin of democracy, and the Democrats’ ostensive dedication to this principle irrespective of the election outcome, sounded more like a recital than a genuine sentiment.
Similarly, Harris echoed these sentiments post Monday’s ceremony, assuring the reporters about the peaceful transfer of power. However, given the history of events, her statement came off as more of a ritualistic proclamation than a heartfelt sentiment.