Jon Stewart is calling the richest man in the world’s bluff. Last night, Stewart flamed Elon Musk for seemingly walking back his agreement to appear on The Daily Show under specific conditions, saying the billionaire gave a “bullshit excuse” for not coming on the program.
Last week on The Daily Show, Stewart literally cut himself open while slamming his “World’s Most Dad” mug after working himself into a tizzy over DOGE, the governmental budget-slasher division which Musk is definitely not in charge of. (This week, Stewart brought out a “World’s Most Dad” sippy cup instead, quipping that he’s “not allowed to have big-boy mugs anymore.”) After Stewart’s unintentionally bloody display, Musk took to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter which he ruined bought, and offered to come on The Daily Show—but only under certain conditions. “I will do it if the show airs unedited,” Musk posted in response to a post saying Musk should go on the show.
The Daily Show immediately accepted Musk’s request publicly on X. An always-game Stewart said that Musk could come on the show for his unedited segment as early as Monday, March 3rd. “The interview can be 15 minutes, an hour, two hours, whatever,” said Stewart. “I’ll be honest: I don’t think this network makes any other programming, so we can do whatever the fuck we want as long as we wrap before the new season of South Park. Which comes out like May or June of 2026.”
Although Stewart and The Daily Show left the door wide open for Musk to make good on his promise, the billionaire quickly seemed to back out, calling The Daily Show “very far left” and accusing its host of being “a propagandist.” Musk made these declarations on X, his personal propaganda platform. “Jon is too set in his ways. He used to be more bipartisan,” Musk also wrote.
On The Daily Show, the funnyman said he was “game” to talk to Musk and that he thought they would have an interesting conversation—then blasted the Tesla founder for implying Stewart is the biased one. “The guy who custom-made his own dark MAGA hat that he wears to opine in the Oval Office with the president who he spent $270 million to elect thinks I’m just too partisan,” Stewart said.
Ultimately, Stewart was ambivalent about Musk coming on the show, but wanted to make at least one thing clear. “Can we just drop the pretense that you won’t do it because I don’t measure up to the standards of neutral discourse that you demand and display at all times?” asked Stewart, to loud cheers from the studio audience. “Because, quite frankly, that’s bullshit. You know it. I know it. Bullshit.”
It seems the offer is still open if Musk, who last year called Stewart “awesome” and certainly fancies himself a bit of a funnyman, wants to take Stewart up on it. But let’s be honest: we’re not holding our breath. Elon Musk going on The Daily Show would probably go about as well for him as it went for Kendall Roy on Succession.
The Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Oscars
-
The Biggest Moments from the Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
-
Inside the Vanity Fair Oscar Party With Timothée Chalamet, Mick Jagger, and Mikey Madison After Anora’s Cinderella Ending
-
There Were Some Surprises: See All the 2025 Oscar Winners
-
All the Looks From Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party Red Carpet
-
Adrien Brody Threw His Gum to His Girlfriend From the Oscar Stage
-
Julia Fox Goes Nearly Naked for Her Oscar Party Look
-
Every Single 2025 Oscars Red Carpet Outfit
-
What You Didn’t See on TV at the Oscars
-
The Exclusive 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Portraits
-
The Best-Dressed Stars at the 2025 Oscars
The post Jon Stewart Calls Out Elon Musk’s “Bullshit” Excuse for Turning Down ‘Daily Show’ Appearance appeared first on Vanity Fair.
