Jon Stewart tears into Elon Musk and Trump's election claims
By Matt Moore
Elon Musk didn't surprise anyone when he appeared with Donald Trump at a recent rally. But Musk's headfirst dive into the 2024 election also made him fair game for Jon Stewart and The Daily Show.
Musk joined Trump on stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Tesla CEO and Twitter owner jumped around behind the ex-president before getting on the mic and declaring himself "dark MAGA."
"Dark MAGA? I didn't know it came in flavors," Jon Stewart teased during his monologue on Monday night. "I wonder if for the holidays they'll come out with peppermint bark MAGA. Or pumpkin spice MAGA."
Stewart's monologue quickly moved on to a more serious topic: election interference. The Daily Show host highlighted Donald Trump's claims that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg engaged in election interference in 2020. The ex-president warned Zuckerberg would spend life in prison if he did it again.
The comedian quickly countered that argument, stating that what Zuckerberg did to raise money for voting infrastruce wasn't illegal. Stewart also pointed out that Elon Musk controls Twitter and is now offering $47 to anyone who refers a voter to register in a swing state.
"Wait, that's not election interference because he's for you?" Stewart asked in response to Trump praising Musk. The comedian cut to a news clip in which the Trump campagin complained the film The Apprentice is election interference.
Jon Stewart fires back at Elon Musk's free speech argument
Jon Stewart took particular offense to Elon Musk's views on free speech. Musk claimed that a Democratic victory would end First Amendment rights. According to Musk, without free speech, there would be no democracy.
"Elon, were you not watching the rest of the show?" Stewart responded. "A movie Trump doesn't like is going to get sued. A tech mogul he doesn't like, he wants to put in prison. It's not free speech if only Trump's admirers get to do it without consequence."
Stewart's monologue ended with the comedian chastising Musk for invoking the Second Amendment in defending free speech. The Daily Show host argued that the threat of violence is not what ensures free speech.