As NewsBusters previously reported, Stewart during Tuesday's interview with Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' Clifford May said that Truman should have done an offshore warning of the atomic bomb in 1945 before dropping it on Hiroshima, and that not doing so was criminal.

Apparently, Stewart has rethought his position, and said the following on Thursday's"Daily Show"...:

The other night we had on Cliff May. He was on, we were discussing torture, back and forth, very spirited discussion, very enjoyable. And I may have mentioned during the discussion we were having that Harry Truman was a war criminal. And right after saying it, I thought to myself that was dumb. And it was dumb. Stupid in fact. So I shouldn't have said that, and I did. So I say right now, no, I don't believe that to be the case. The atomic bomb, a very complicated decision in the context of a horrific war, and I walk that back because it was in my estimation a stupid thing to say. Which, by the way, as it was coming out of your mouth, you ever do that, where you're saying something, and as it's coming out you're like,"What the f**k, nyah?" And it just sat in there for a couple of days, just sitting going,"No, no, he wasn't, and you should really say that out loud on the show." So I am, right now, and, man, ew. Sorry. And, Warren G. Harding was a [bleeped, unintelligible].

Related Links

HNN: Truman on Trial

HNN: Hiroshima ... What People Think Now

Lorraine Paul - 5/6/2009

Mr Hamby, If more US citizens were like Jon Stewart, you would not have ended up as you are today...shamed before the world and desperately in debt!

Lorraine Paul - 5/6/2009

It was obvious that Jon Stewart, after consultation with sponsors and his network that Stewart was made to make a retraction in the guise of an apology.

He is no fool and although he made the remark in the heat of debate he would be well aware that one can only go so far in the light of US social mores. Especially, the clinging onto of symbols and icons (informally known as sacred cows) which could be said to represent the attitude of the US more than most other countries.

Lorraine Paul - 5/6/2009

whooops! should be 'letting'!

Randll Reese Besch - 5/6/2009

He has no need to do so for any smaller ones unless you Mr. Hamby would like to list a few that are real errors and not just those you disagree with.

Alonzo L Hamby - 5/6/2009

Will Jon Stewart start apologizing for every stupid thing he says? Nah, not enough minutes in the day.

Lorraine Paul - 5/6/2009

The dropping of the bomb had nothing to do with the surrender of Japan! It had everything to do with letter the USSR know that..we have the bomb and we are not afraid to use it!