Jon Stewart blasts Obama administration over Paris absence

Jon Stewart joined critics blasting the Obama administration for not having a larger presence at Sunday's massive unity rally in Paris, where world leaders marched with more than a million people in solidarity following last week's Islamic militant attacks.

"How could the U.S. not be there when representatives of such beacons of freedom and lack of censorship as journalist-punishing Russia was there? Journalist-jailing Turkey was there. Egypt... 'nuff said," Stewart said. "Palestinian cartoonist-jailing Israel was there. And of course, our greatest ally, Saudi Arabia, was there — although a little out of breath having just days ago flogged a blogger."

Even Sen. Ted Cruz weighed in on the absence.

"The absence is symbolic of the lack of American leadership on the world stage, and it is dangerous," Republican senator wrote in an op-ed published by Time magazine Monday.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for security meetings on Sunday but did not attend the demonstration, which officials say was the country's largest ever.

“[Holder was] probably taking advantage of the shortest tourist lines in French history," Stewart joked. "While the march is going on you're just kicking back snapping selfies with the Mona Lisa.”

The United States was represented at the march by Jane Hartley, its ambassador to France.

"I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday. "That said, there is no doubt that the American people and this administration stand foursquare behind our allies in France as they face down this threat."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to travel to France later this week, but Stewart was unimpressed.

"Je suis to be kidding me," he said.

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