In new artwork, Jim Carrey praised Jon Stewart for advocating 9/11 first responders and blasted Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor of New York City during the terrorist attacks.
“Kudos Jon Stewart for supporting the heroes of 9/11 who gave all to fulfill their duty while Congress, as usual, ran to hide from theirs like cockroaches when you turn the lights on. And speaking of insects where is ‘America’s Mayor’? Shouldn’t Rudy be fighting for these people?,” the actor-turned-artist tweeted.
Kudos Jon Stewart for supporting the heroes of 9/11 who gave all to fulfill their duty while Congress, as usual, ran to hide from theirs like cockroaches when you turn the lights on. And speaking of insects where is ‘America’s Mayor’? Shouldn’t Rudy be fighting for these people? pic.twitter.com/3UN4daIain
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 13, 2019
Carrey’s painting depicts Stewart — who hosted “The Daily Show” during 9/11 — leading two FDNY firefighters. The shot is evocative of reports from the World Trade Center of firefighters leading civilians out of the twin towers. The painting shows Stewart flipping on a light switch as cockroaches scurry away.
The former late-night talk testified to Congress on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to renew the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, which was due to expire next year.
“Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: Time!,” Stewart said, lambasting the mostly-empty committee hearing. “What an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to. Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak. To no one.”
On Wednesday– one day after Stewart’s testimony — the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill to authorize additional funding for the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund until 2090. The bill now moves to the House for a full vote next month.
Before the hearing, members of the FNDY presented the bunker coat of late Ray Pfiefer, a firefighter who died from 9/11-related cancer. Stewart had befriended Pfiefer the previous time 9/11 legislation was set to expire. Stewart eulogized Pfiefer after his death in 2017.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS VIDEO. An emotional Jon Stewart is given the turnout coat of @FDNY legend Ray Pfeifer, who died from 9/11 related cancer. Ret #FDNY Kenny Specht makes the presentation outside a Congressional hearing room. @wcbs880 #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/WD6kW5Lvje
— Peter Haskell (@peterhaskell880) June 11, 2019
“I don’t deserve this but I will treasure it like I treasured Ray and our friendship,” an emotional Stewart responded after receiving the coat.
Giuliani — dubbed “America’s Mayor” by Oprah Winfrey during a 9/11 memorial service two weeks after the attacks — has not tweeted anything regarding 9/11 responders this week, instead focusing his attacks on the Democratic party. (Giuliani serves as President Trump’s lawyer.)
Trump and his cabinet are frequently featured in Jim Carrey’s artwork. The actor’s previous works have scrutinized the president himself, Attorney General William Barr, and former special counsel Robert Mueller. The artist has also painted Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden, seeming questioning the viability of the former vice president’s candidacy.