President Obama issues 'executive order' to stop Jon Stewart retiring from The Daily Show

'I can’t believe you're leaving before me'

Jon Stewart and President Obama spar one last time (AP)

No-one is more upset about Jon Stewart leaving The Daily Show than his long-standing sparring partner, President Obama.

Obama made his seventh appearance on the programme two weeks before Stewart’s departure, and appeared to find saying goodbye to the seasoned host hard to swallow.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving before me,” said Obama. “I’m going to issue an executive order: Jon Stewart cannot leave the show. It’s being challenged in the courts.”

The pair spent 20 minutes moving from quips and friendly digs to tough questions on policy and legacy, 18 months before the President hands over his keys to the White House.

"That dissipates the further up it goes because all the money and because of all the filters and all the polarizing that takes place in terms of how our politics take shape. But the only way to prevent that is by people getting involved."

Fortunately for Obama, Stewart did not subject him to the dressing-down he received five years ago in an interview that saw the President admit his slogan should have been "yes we can - but". This time, Obama's relaxed demeanour was noted by Stewart, who started to ask, “do you feel like, seven years in," before Obama offered: "Like I know what I'm doing?"