O’Reilly jokes with Stewart: ‘I truly hate him’

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the nature of the conversation between O’Reilly and Stewart.

Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly joined comedian Jon Stewart for Tuesday’s “The Daily Show,” his first visit back to the show in a decade. 

The two sparred over political differences, with O’Reilly going so far as to joke that he “truly” hates Stewart, but saying they can still debate politics.

O’Reilly acknowledged he and Stewart have “a history,” pointing to his last appearance in 2014, when they got into an argument about white privilege and race.

“We are able to disagree without hating each other,” O’Reilly said.

“Now, I truly hate him but … I don’t show it,” he then joked.

The longtime television news personality joined the show for a special live episode. The show did not air Monday following the assassination attempt against former President Trump over the weekend.

The former Fox host has co-written a book series documenting U.S. presidential assassinations. He said what’s different now, compared to past shootings against presidents, are the heightened emotions online due to social and corporate media.

O’Reilly said all gunmen who shoot at presidents “have one thing in common”: They are mentally ill. Federal law enforcement officials said Sunday they had “no indication” that 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who climbed up to a roof near Trump’s Butler, Pa., rally and began shooting, had mental health issues.

O’Reilly argued, however, that the gunman Saturday had mental health issues and was “in a rage.” He then went on to talk about John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated former President Lincoln.

“So, it’s not new, but we’re now in a society where hatred is rewarded,” he said.

The former Fox host said the “hate brigade” is pulling back a “little bit” following Trump’s assassination attempt, though conspiracies and questions swarmed social media in the hours and days after the shooting. He argued the hate will “be back in two weeks.”

In the present day, two people who have differing political ideologies, like O’Reilly and Stewart do, don’t have any reward for civil disagreement, O’Reilly argued.

“What can people do about this, all right? Reject it. Don’t celebrate it,” he said.

It “does nobody any good” jumping to categorize the gunman as either a Republican or Democrat and politicizing the issue, O’Reilly argued.

Originally published at 10:48 a.m.