Jon Stewart supports Daily Show successor Trevor Noah

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show.

Jon Stewart is voicing full support for his Daily Show successor Trevor Noah, calling the incoming host "incredibly thoughtful and considerate and funny and smart."

Stewart made his comments on Monday's edition of the Comedy Central fake news show. With The Daily Show in repeats last week, it was his first on-air chance to respond to a harsh backlash against past graphic tweets posted by Noah.

The tweets were uncovered only hours after the stand-up comic was announced on March 30 as Stewart's replacement later this year.

Stewart promised that Noah "will earn your trust and respect. Or not. Just as I earned your trust and respect. Or did not."

More seriously, he said if viewers give Noah the chance to prove himself, "it's going to be well worth it."

- AP