Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Elon Musk on Wednesday night, mocking the Tesla CEO over his confusion about why people are vandalizing and burning his cars.
During his monologue, Kimmel played a clip from Musk’s Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, where the billionaire speculated that Tesla arsonists might be suffering from “some kind of mental illness thing.” Kimmel had a different take: “When you pull out a chainsaw to celebrate firing thousands of people, they get mad.”
WHY IT MATTERS: Musk’s layoffs, far-right rhetoric, and open admiration for authoritarian figures have made him a polarizing figure. Now, public frustration is boiling over into direct action against his company.
THE DETAILS: Tesla has faced multiple instances of vandalism and arson across the U.S. and Europe.
- On Tuesday, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, setting off an explosion that destroyed several vehicles.
Musk’s defenders, especially in MAGA circles, claim the incidents are politically motivated, while others point to his own actions—like mass layoffs and controversial public statements—as fueling the backlash.
THE BACKLASH: Kimmel, known for his sharp critiques of right-wing figures, also addressed the controversy surrounding his own joke from earlier in the week. He had told viewers, “Please don’t vandalize Teslas,” but his comedic pause afterward led some conservatives to claim he was inciting violence.
Kimmel responded by clarifying that while he doesn’t condone arson, he understands why Musk’s behavior has enraged so many people. “Burning a car might not be great for the environment,” Kimmel joked. “I don’t think that’s what they had in mind when they invented the electric car.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Musk has positioned himself as a free speech absolutist but frequently whines about criticism. His alignment with Trump, mass firings, and erratic behavior have turned him into a villain for many progressives. Meanwhile, Tesla’s declining sales and stock price suggest that the billionaire’s antics may be hurting his bottom line.