Elon Musk challenges Jon Stewart to 'unedited' debate on 'The Daily Show'—Internet predicts he’ll back out
Courtesy: AP
Elon Musk and Jon Stewart may be heading toward a highly anticipated showdown on The Daily Show, after the billionaire CEO challenged Stewart to host him on one condition—the episode must air unedited.
The exchange began after Stewart delivered a scathing critique of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during Monday night’s Daily Show. Following the segment, Musk supporters urged the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to confront Stewart on air. Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I will do it if the show airs unedited.”
I will do it if the show airs unedited
His challenge was met with immediate enthusiasm from The Daily Show’s official account, which swiftly replied, “We’d be delighted!”
The potential face-off follows Stewart’s sharp takedown of Musk’s DOGE initiative, in which he questioned its real impact on federal jobs while sarcastically suggesting other ways to cut government waste. “How about we just take $3 billion in subsidies we give to oil and gas companies?” Stewart quipped. “Or close the carried interest loophole on hedge funds? That’s $1.3 billion a year!”
While no date has been confirmed for the interview, social media is already buzzing with skepticism about whether Musk will follow through. Many users compared the situation to his previously proposed fight with Mark Zuckerberg—an event he ultimately backed out of.
One X user predicted, “Elon will not do this. He cannot stand up to even slight scrutiny, and Jon Stewart is an extremely good interviewer. This is the Zuckerberg fight again. He will find a way out.”
Elon will not do this. He cannot stand up to even slight scrutiny and Jon Stewart is an extremely good interviewer. This is the Zuckerberg fight again. He will find a way out. pic.twitter.com/zKMeGmt2z8
Another wrote, “He’s going to back out of this even faster than he backed out of that fight with Zuck.”
He's going to back out of this even faster than he backed out of that fight with Zuck (remember that?)
Some called for the interview to be broadcast live to ensure full transparency. “They should do it live,” one user suggested.
They should do it live.
Others were less hopeful, with one commenter simply writing, “Less than zero percent chance this happens.”
less than zero percent chance this happens
If Musk does appear on The Daily Show, it could be one of his most contentious media moments yet. With Stewart’s well-documented criticism and Musk’s unfiltered approach to interviews, the conversation—if it happens—is likely to be both heated and headline-making.