The Daily Show's Trevor Noah starts Change.org 'Free Jeb' petition to save Jeb Bush from his campaign


Jeb Bush has seemed a little, well, sad lately. He recently told a group of school children about the "deep, spiraling depression" his father, former President George. H. W. Bush, would send him into as a kid; other notable campaign slip-ups include Bush shouting, "I've got a lot of really cool things I could do other than sit around, being miserable, listening to people demonize me and feeling compelled to demonize them."
But The Daily Show's Trevor Noah is here to help. After recapping SeaWorld's planned changes to their killer whale shows, which were brought about by accusations of animal cruelty highlighted in the documentary Blackfish, Noah executed a perfect segue: "At first glance the whales look like they're having fun in these environments, but if you look closely, their suffering is apparent. And recently, I realized that Republicans have their own Blackfish. His name is Jeb Bush," Noah said.
Noah then runs through some of Bush's darker comments while on the campaign trail and suggests that the GOP presidential candidate is in "campaign captivity."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"You see, Jeb has never known the freedom of swimming in a great big ocean — an ocean called life," Noah said. That's why he has launched a Change.org petition to "free Jeb," with the attached note sent to his campaign and Super PAC:
To: Jeb Bush's Campaign and super PACFor the sake of basic human rights, please free Jeb Bush from the Republican primaries. The campaign trail is not his natural habitat. Forcing this intelligent, sensitive mammal to try to cope in these unnatural conditions is inhumane. By freeing Jeb Bush, you will pave the way for a more ethical treatment of all presidential candidates whose family members have already been president. Please set this poor man free. [Change.org]
Heartstrings sufficiently tugged? Watch in full below, and sign the petition here. Jeva Lange
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The state of Britain's Armed Forces
The Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
By The Week UK
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fish
Under the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Crossword: April 21, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US