The former president has no interest in a “Daily Show” type role.

Barack Obama explains why he doesn’t want to be Jon Stewart

The former president has no interest in a "Daily Show" type role.

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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May 4, 2026 1:07 p.m. ET

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Barack Obama on 'Good Morning America' in 2021; Jon Stewart on 'The Daily Show' last month. Credit:

Jeff Neira/ABC via Getty; Matt Wilson/Comedy Central

- Barack Obama is explaining why he doesn't want to do Jon Stewart's job.

- The former president believes that he shouldn't be a "commentator."

- He said his continued involvement with politics has caused "genuine tension" with wife Michelle Obama.

If Jon Stewart decides to leave *The Daily Show* again, you can officially cross Barack Obama's name off the list of replacement candidates.

In a *New Yorker* profile published Monday, the former president gave insight into why he chooses to be selective when he speaks out, rather than weigh in on everything that happens with President Donald Trump.

“For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening," Obama said, "then I’m not a political leader, I’m a commentator."

Obama added, "By the way, I'm glad Jon's doing it."

Obama and Stewart on 'The Daily Show' in 2015.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

The 44th president contends he's still involved in politics “more than I would have preferred," and that it has led to a "genuine tension" in his marriage, as his wife, Michelle Obama, wishes he was "enjoying what remains of our lives."

“The media environment is so difficult that people don’t even know all the stuff I am doing," he said. “And, I think, when they do see me, then the sense is, well, why isn’t he doing that every day instead of just during a midterm election, or during a referendum campaign around gerrymandering, or what have you?”

Obama is staying busy in the non-political space too. On Tuesday, he will be a guest on *The Late Show* just two weeks before Stephen Colbert signs off. And then, in June, Larry David's new Obama-produced series *Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness* is set to premiere on HBO, with Obama appearing opposite David in an episode of the sketch-comedy show.

Barack Obama to appear on Larry David's new sketch comedy show

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At the time of the series announcement, Obama teased his collaboration with the famously grumpy and opinionated David. "I've sat across the table from some of the world's most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems," the president-turned-producer said in a statement. "Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David."

So, instead of Jon Stewart, it's starting to seem like Obama is eyeing his chance to be the next J.B. Smoove!

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Source: “EW Talk”