What started as late-night comedy quickly turned serious when Elon Musk lashed out at Jimmy Kimmel over jokes about Tesla’s recent struggles. Kimmel’s Tuesday monologue included quips about Tesla’s stock crash and sarcastic pleas against vandalism – comments that drew audience laughter but prompted Musk to call the host “an unfunny jerk” on X.
The exchange comes during a troubling period for Tesla, with multiple reports of vandalized vehicles and dealerships across the country. Musk has framed these incidents as politically motivated, telling Fox News he’s shocked by “the level of real hatred and violence from the left,” though no evidence directly links the vandals to any political group.
Federal authorities aren’t taking the attacks lightly. Attorney General Pam Bondi has classified them as acts of domestic terrorism, with several suspects facing serious federal charges. As Tesla becomes a lightning rod in broader cultural conflicts, even comedy routines now risk fueling the fire in unexpected ways.
