Jon Stewart faces backlash for comparing NYC candidate to Jackie Robinson
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Social media users criticized Comedy Central host Jon Stewart on Tuesday for comparing New York City Democratic socialite candidate Zohran Mamdani to baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
During an interview with Mamdani on “The Daily Show,” Stewart said the Muslim candidate was having “a little bit of a Jackie Robinson moment”; which suggested that Mamdani blazing a political path as an ethnic minority was akin to Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
“I honestly think there are a lot of different communities that think that any New Yorker is looking at you, any New Yorker who sees opportunity from someone who represents underrepresented communities, whether it’s a Muslim, a young person, a progressive, a democratic socialist,” Stewart said.
He added, “And it’s – I hate to break it to you – a bit of a Jackie Robinson moment. And I know that probably carries some weight. But man, oh man, what an exciting opportunity.”
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Late-night comedian Jon Stewart compared Zohran Mamdani to black baseball legend Jackie Robinson. (Taylor Hill/Getty; Havuz/Getty)
Several prominent social media users reacted strongly to Stewart’s comments.
Conservative, pro-Jewish commentator “Persian Jew” accused the late-night host of hypocrisy.
He wrote: “Jon Stewart makes about $25 Million a year from The Daily Show. His staff makes $65,000 to $110,000 a year. If he loves communism that much, he should split his million-dollar salary with his staff instead of pushing a terrorist radical in New York City.”
Conservative commentator Paul Szypula said Stewart was tarnishing Robinson’s legacy with this comparison.
“Jon Stewart demeans the great legacy of baseball player Jackie Robinson by comparing Zohran Mamdani to him. Robinson was a hero who helped break the color barrier in MLB. Mamdani is a jihadist who helped tear NYC apart. Shame on Stewart.”
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New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani greets supporters in Hell’s Kitchen on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
Conservative podcaster Dave Rubin criticized the host, saying: “Jon Stewart could have been the level-headed liberal bulwark against radical crazy democrats. Instead he cheered them on. He’ll eventually realize he’s just a pawn…”
Sports reporter Michele Tafoya wrote: “So Jon Stewart now thinks antisemitic socialists are like Jackie Robinson? The same Jon Stewart who fought for first responders on 9/11 and died after terrorists flew into the World Trade Center? Did he ask Mamdani to condemn terrorism?”
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MLB icon Jackie Robinson is the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Conservative activist James Lindsay broke down Stewart’s comparison of Mamdani to Robinson.
“While Jackie Robinson literally couldn’t eat in restaurants or stay in hotels because of his race, nepo kids like Mamdani grew up with the wealth of attending a $60,000-a-year private school and being the child of a famous movie producer. Jon Stewart is a propagandist.”
Musician John Ondrasik wrote: “This would eliminate @jonstewart from his seat at the cultural table forever. I can’t think of anything more disgusting than likening a terrorist socialist idiot to Jackie Robinson.”
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