Daily Show host Jon Stewart recently blasted “the f*cking entitled arrogance” of people who argue that former President Donald Trump’s alleged financial crimes were “victimless” during his monologue on Monday via Mediaite.
He reacted to Trump’s fight against the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him in New York, Stewart questioned, “What did Trump actually do to earn this penalty? Well it turns out that for a decade, whenever Trump wanted to get a loan or make a deal, he would illegally inflate the value of his real estate.”
He continued, “And the Attorney General of New York knew that Trump’s property values were inflated because when it came time to pay taxes, Trump undervalued the very same properties. It was all part of a very specific real estate practice known as lying.”
Stewart went on to play a series of clips of Fox News host Sean Hannity, Fox Business host Stuart Varney, and Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary arguing that there were no victims from Trump’s alleged crimes.
“I am surprised to hear this from Kevin O’Leary,” said Stewart. “I’m surprised to hear that he’s so chill about overvaluing something that he thinks is victimless because when someone tries to do that to him…”
Stewart also went on to play a montage of O’Leary getting angry at people on Shark Tank for overvaluing their businesses.
Stewart also played a clip of O’Leary telling CNN host Laura Coates that falsification of business records, issuing false financial statements, and insurance fraud were “done by every real estate developer everywhere on Earth, in every city,” and “has never been prosecuted.”
“Leave it to Kevin O’Leary to be unaware enough to say the quiet part out loud,” reacted Stewart:
The fucking entitled arrogance! I don’t know if you know this, but most people just can’t commit fraud and expect to face no repercussions, even if everyone’s doing it. Try getting a car loan by saying you have ten times as much money as you really do, or claim 20 dependents when you have no children, or say you make slightly less money to qualify for food assistance. I will guarantee you there are not just financial consequences for those lies, but criminal ones. But don’t tell that to the investment community, because in their minds, in pursuit of profit, there is no rule that cannot be bent, there is no principle that cannot be undercut as long as you and your fucking friends are making money.
On Monday, Trump was given reprieve by an appeals court, which ordered him to pay $175 million within ten days to cover his appeal bond – significantly less than the $464 million he was initially ordered to pay.
