Jon Stewart Responds to Claims He Overvalued Apartment

Jon Stewart responded to reports that he overvalued his apartment by criticizing Donald Trump for exaggerating his own property values.

Trump was ordered to pay $454 million in February after New York judge Arthur Engoron concluded that the real estate mogul had inflated his assets to secure bank loans and make business deals.

On Tuesday, an appeals court agreed to the delay collection if Trump pays a reduced $175 million bond within 10 days. Stewart mocked Trump's legal woes during the latest episode of The Daily Show.

Social media users accused him of "hypocrisy" after the New York Post reported that the comedian sold his Tribeca penthouse in 2014 for 829 percent above the estimated market value. Stewart subsequently slammed the critics on X, formerly Twitter.

"OMG!! I've been caught doing something not remotely similar to Trump!" the comedian posted on Wednesday. "I guess all I need to do now is start a fraud college, steal classified docs, bankrupt casinos, pay hush money, grab pussies, discriminate in housing, cheat at golf and foment insurrection and you'll revere me!"

Stewart sold his Tribeca penthouse in 2014 for $17.5 million. At the time, an assessor valued the 6,280-square-foot property at $847,174, a difference of 829 percent. In New York, tax rates are applied to the estimated value of a property, with the penthouse judged to be worth $1.882 million. Stewart did not do anything legally wrong.

Since being shared, his post has received 5.7 million views.

Newsweek reached out to Donald Trump and Jon Stewart for comment via email.

Stewart ripped into the former president during Monday night's show, blasting news reports that described the asset inflation as a "victimless crime."

"You might be saying to yourself, well, that sounds pretty straightforward. Whatever gains you got from lying, you have to pay back," Stewart said.

"Well, that's because you're a f****** idiot," he joked, before cutting to press coverage of the trial.

The montage included recent clips from Fox News, where several hosts and contributors said there are "no victims" in Trump's New York civil fraud case.

The segment also included a recent CNN interview with Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary, in which the Canadian businessman claimed the ruling "didn't go over well with the investment community."

"We're all asking each other, who's next?" O'Leary said in the footage.

In response, Stewart quipped: "Ah, who's next? The persecuted minority of the investment community," before dubbing O'Leary an "a******."

Next came a reel of Shark Tank clips, in which O'Leary slams entrepreneurs for seemingly overvaluing their business.

"How is he not this mad about overvaluations in the real world?" Stewart said.

"Because they are not victimless crimes. Money isn't infinite. A loan that goes to the liar doesn't go to someone who's giving a more honest evaluation."

"Avoiding taxes hurts all of us," he continued, adding that "Donald Trump's shenanigans cost the city of New York."

The backlash against the comedian was swift on social media despite the difference between Stewart's and Trump's situations.

"When's Jon Stewart's trial???" said @Eyesoftheworld_ on X.

"People who live in overvalued glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Jon," wrote conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

"If Trump's "crimes" were 'not victimless,' what say you of yours?" asked @Shaughn_A2.

"Leticia James needs to go after Jon Stewart for the same exact reasons she went after Trump because fair is fair," said @TheThe1776.

Other users defended Stewart, pointing out that overinflating assets and selling a property for above-market value are not the same thing.

"Oh god is this dumb," wrote Mike Pesca. "Jon Stewart payed [sic] his assessed taxes, as everyone everywhere who has had to pay taxes on their home's assessed value has done."

"Trump overvalued his assets on loan applications, which is a federal crime," said Shawn Foss." Jon Stewart sold his penthouse for a lot more than the market value, which is completely legal."

Stewart has poked fun at Trump several times since returning to The Daily Show in February after a 9-year hiatus to cover the 2024 election, mocking everything from the business magnate's legal woes to his recent golf tournament wins.