Elon Musk Fires Back at Jimmy Kimmel for Mocking Tesla Attacks

Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel found himself in Elon Musk's crosshairs after appearing to trivialize the recent spate of vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships and vehicles. During Tuesday's monologue, Kimmel joked about Tesla's plummeting stock price and mocked Musk’s leadership, drawing laughter and cheers from his audience.

Kimmel quipped, "Tesla stock is way down, almost disastrously so," which prompted his audience to erupt into applause, seemingly celebrating the company's financial woes. He also made a dig at Musk's SpaceX operations, joking about firing astronauts immediately upon landing.

The timing of Kimmel's remarks coincides with a wave of attacks on Tesla properties, including acts of vandalism and violence. Tesla vehicles have been keyed, firebombed, and targeted in what some officials are calling acts of domestic terrorism. In response, Musk has expressed shock and disbelief over the hostility directed at his company.

"It’s really come as quite a shock to me that there is this level of real hatred and violence from the left," Musk said during an exclusive interview on "Hannity." He added, "I thought the left, you know, Democrats, were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring. And yet they're burning down cars, firebombing dealerships, and smashing up Teslas." However, Musk's comments about political affiliations are not substantiated by evidence linking the alleged vandals to any specific party.

Musk wasted no time firing back at Kimmel's jokes on X, formerly Twitter, bluntly calling him "an unfunny jerk." The Tesla CEO’s reaction underscores the mounting tension surrounding these incidents, which have escalated from property damage to potential threats of terrorism.

Attorney General Pam Bondi weighed in on Tuesday, referring to the attacks on Tesla properties as "nothing short of domestic terrorism." Bondi announced ongoing investigations and promised severe consequences for perpetrators, including mandatory minimum sentences for those charged.

Meanwhile, Kimmel’s seemingly sarcastic plea not to vandalize Tesla vehicles added fuel to the fire. "People have been vandalizing Tesla vehicles, new Tesla vehicles. Please, don't vandalize, don’t ever vandalize Tesla vehicles," Kimmel said, with a pointed pause that critics interpreted as sardonic.

The fallout from Kimmel’s remarks and Musk’s sharp response highlights the polarizing nature of the Tesla CEO, who has become a lightning rod for criticism and controversy. Whether the comedian intended to provoke or simply entertain, Musk's reaction has ensured the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Tesla's challenges.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kimmel for comment but has not received a response.