Jon Stewart has decided to leave his seat at The Daily Show after 16 years on the air. The daily talk show will continue on in the future with a different host. At this time, Comedy Central has not decided who will take over. They did release the following statement, officially announcing that the longtime host will step down later this year.

"For the better part of the last two decades, we have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of 'The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family."

Jon Stewart had previously stepped down from the hosting seat in the summer of 2013. He used his extended hiatus to direct his first feature film Rosewater, which was released in the fall of last year. In his absence, John Oliver stepped in. Though, since that time, John Oliver has found his own success with the HBO comedy talk show series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Jon Stewart leaving The Daily Show comes in the wake of Stephen Colbert leaving The Colbert Report late last year so that he could take over The Late Show from David Letterman later this year. It is not known yet what Jon Stewart plans on doing after he leaves The Daily Show. He joined the popular Comedy Central series in 1999, taking over for then host Craig Kilborn. It has not yet been announced if he will set out to direct a second feature film.