A fresh feud has erupted between billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, following a recent segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that took aim at Musk’s behavior, controversial public appearances, and Tesla’s ongoing issues, including vehicle fires and safety recalls.
Kimmel, never shy about poking fun at high-profile figures, took direct aim at Musk during his monologue. He played a clip from Musk’s recent Fox News interview, where the Tesla CEO described climate protesters and critics as “deranged.” In response, Kimmel sarcastically offered his own explanation for the backlash Musk has faced: “When you pull out a chainsaw to celebrate firing thousands of people, they get mad.”
This comment was a reference to Musk’s appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he appeared onstage wielding a chainsaw. While Musk and his supporters framed the act as symbolic—representing his desire to cut through government red tape—critics saw it as tone-deaf and inappropriate, particularly amid widespread layoffs at his companies.
Kimmel didn’t stop there. He added, “You do one, maybe two Nazi salutes, and everybody gets all bent out of shape!”—a pointed jab at a previous controversy involving Musk, in which a gesture he made at a public event was interpreted by some as resembling a Nazi salute. Though Musk has not officially addressed the gesture, the moment sparked significant backlash online and added to ongoing debates about his increasingly provocative public image.
Elon Musk did not let the comments slide. He quickly responded on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), calling Kimmel an “unfunny jerk.” Musk’s retort drew a wave of reactions from his millions of followers—some siding with him and others defending Kimmel’s right to satirize public figures.
The clash comes at a time when Tesla is facing mounting scrutiny. The company has recently issued multiple recalls, including one involving its much-hyped Cybertruck due to concerns over sticky accelerator pedals. Additionally, incidents of Tesla vehicles catching fire—while still rare—have generated headlines and fueled criticism of the company’s safety practices. These issues have given late-night comedians like Kimmel plenty of material to work with.
Kimmel continued to pile on during his segment, joking, “Authorities are now investigating which Teslas were set on fire – and which set themselves on fire,” in reference to arson attacks on Tesla vehicles as well as spontaneous battery fires that have been reported over the years.
The Musk-Kimmel spat highlights a broader cultural clash between media personalities and tech executives, especially those like Musk, who wield immense influence both in business and online discourse. As Musk continues to blur the lines between CEO and internet provocateur, he remains a lightning rod for controversy, criticism, and satire alike.
For now, the war of words between Musk and Kimmel shows no signs of cooling down. And as long as Musk continues to make bold—and sometimes baffling—public moves, late-night hosts will almost certainly keep him in their crosshairs.