Jon Stewart accepts Musk’s challenge for unedited interview

Listen To Story Above

Jon Stewart has accepted Elon Musk’s conditions for a potential interview, responding to the tech billionaire’s requirement that the conversation be aired without edits.

The exchange began when Musk, responding to Stewart’s recent criticism of the Department of Government Efficiency, posted on X that he would appear on the show under the condition that it would air unedited. Musk also characterized Stewart as “much more a propagandist than it would seem.”

During Monday’s show, Stewart addressed Musk’s proposition, pointing out that in-studio interviews are typically broadcast without editing anyway. He expressed enthusiasm for the potential conversation, offering flexibility on the interview’s duration.

🚨 Challenge Accepted: @jonstewart Has Accepted @elonmusk Interview Terms, No Edits Allowed‼️

Jon Stewart just accepted Elon Musk’s terms for an interview completely unedited. See video ⬇️

Stewart, one of the sharpest media critics of this era. Musk, the relentless… pic.twitter.com/XAQxagiLoN

— 🔥 CEO Branding Expert (@Ceo_Branding) March 4, 2025

“Musk tweeted, or X’d, I guess, that he would like to come on here and talk to me as long as the show airs unedited,” Stewart said on Monday’s show. “After thinking about his offer, I thought … that’s actually how the in-studio interviews normally air, is unedited. So, sure, we’d be delighted.

“Let me sweeten or unsweeten the pot: The interview could be 15 minutes, it could be an hour, it could be two hours.”

Stewart challenged Musk’s accusation of bias, noting the tech executive’s own political leanings. “So I am game. I think it would be a very interesting conversation,” Stewart said. “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.

Jon Stewart accepts Elon Musk's offer to do an unedited interview on "The Daily Show."

"After thinking about his offer, I thought, ‘You know, hey, that’s actually how the in studio interviews normally air. Unedited.’ So, sure. We’d be delighted. As a matter of fact, let me… pic.twitter.com/md8SxNjAL9

— Variety (@Variety) March 4, 2025

“I’m not sure what he thinks bipartisan means, but it’s generally not, ‘I support Donald Trump and also Germany’s AFD Party.’ That’s not bipartisan.”

While acknowledging his criticisms of DOGE, Stewart expressed support for the broader goal of making government more efficient and cost-effective for Americans.

“If you want to come on and talk about it on the show, great. If you don’t want to, sure,” Stewart said. “But 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?”