Elon Musk and Jimmy Kimmel have recently clashed on social media, with Musk calling the ABC late-night host a “propaganda puppet” on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday. Kimmel didn’t let this jab slide and responded during his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He quickly fired back with a sarcastic quip, saying, “At least my children like me,” referencing Musk’s strained relationship with at least one of his kids, a topic that’s been public for some time. Kimmel’s response added a personal layer to the exchange, highlighting the distance between Musk and his family.
The animosity between the two continued to escalate as Kimmel directly rebutted Musk’s “propaganda puppet” accusation. “The guy who paid people a million dollars a day to vote for Donald Trump is calling me a propaganda puppet,” Kimmel said, implying Musk’s own questionable history with promoting political agendas. Kimmel didn’t stop there, going on to criticize Musk for purchasing Twitter and turning it into, in his words, “a social media platform that is literally a propaganda machine.” The late-night host was making the point that Musk’s business actions have arguably done more to promote partisan rhetoric than anything Kimmel himself has been accused of.
In a particularly biting moment, Kimmel continued, “Let me tell you something, if I spent two weeks trying to come up with a four-word description of Elon Musk, I don’t think I could do better than ‘insufferable nonsense propaganda puppet.'” This sharp description underscored Kimmel’s frustration with Musk’s rhetoric and public persona, particularly when it comes to his approach to media and politics. Kimmel’s use of the phrase was meant to diminish Musk’s credibility, mocking his public stances and actions that Kimmel believes undermine serious discourse.
Musk has previously made similar accusations of “propaganda” against several major news outlets, including *The New York Times*, *The Washington Post*, *The Atlantic*, NPR, and the Associated Press. Kimmel referenced these accusations, recalling Musk’s infamous remark that the Associated Press stood for “Associated Propaganda.” By bringing up these past comments, Kimmel painted Musk as hypocritical for calling out others while engaging in practices that many might consider propaganda himself, particularly through his control of Twitter.
Kimmel also took a shot at Musk’s recent political activities, particularly his vocal support of Donald Trump. The late-night host joked that Musk’s actions, such as his promotion of Trump’s agenda and his controversial remarks, have led him to be seen as a cheerleader for the former president. In one of his more humorous moments, Kimmel remarked that Musk’s newfound status with the president-elect would likely lead to a perfect match, quipping, “I’m sure his little hand will fit nicely into your sock hole.” The jab was aimed at Musk’s apparent willingness to align himself with Trump, no matter the political consequences.
The ongoing back-and-forth between Kimmel and Musk demonstrates the growing tensions between the two figures, with each using their platform to attack the other. For Kimmel, the feud is a way to push back against Musk’s public persona, while Musk’s comments reveal his disdain for traditional media and figures he perceives as part of the “establishment.” It’s clear that this rivalry is far from over, and both will likely continue to take digs at each other in the public sphere.
