In a recent episode of NPR’s Fresh Air, aired on March 10, 2025, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster Bill Burr didn’t hold back his criticism of Elon Musk, labeling him an “idiot” and suggesting that he is “evidently” affiliated with unsavory ideologies. Burr’s comments also extended to liberal critics of the Tesla CEO, which he found equally questionable.
Burr emphasized that his current stand-up routines are aimed at enlightening his audience about underlying issues. He articulated this sentiment by stating:
“I’m trying to get regular people to stop yelling at each other and realize that it’s a select few groups of nerds eating raw almonds and doing their stupid workouts and competing with each other to have the biggest infinity pool and the rest of us are getting pushed down.”
At 56 years old, Burr pointed out the politicization of issues concerning Musk, asserting, “They’ve politicized the whole stupid thing and we’re falling for it.” When prompted to elaborate on his comments, he directly targeted Musk, specifically condemning Musk’s controversial hand gestures during Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
“I just refuse to believe it was an accidental two-time Sieg Heil. And he does it at a presidential inauguration!”
For context, Burr shared his thoughts on Joe Rogan’s podcast last month, where he insisted that his actions did not signify Nazi affiliation, clarifying, “Just to be clear, I’m not a N*zi.”
Breaking Down Burr’s Critique of Liberals and Musk
While discussing Elon Musk on Fresh Air, Burr didn’t shy away from critiquing the weak responses of Democrats to Musk’s behavior. He expressed frustration, stating:
“This is why I hate liberals. Liberals have no teeth whatsoever. They just go, ‘Oh my God, can you believe this? I’m getting out of the country!’ I’m just like, you’re gonna leave the country because of one guy with dyed hair plugs and a laminated face?”
Burr further dismissed Musk’s reputation in the automotive industry, describing him as a “bad car manufacturer” in relation to Tesla and declared Musk’s platform, X, to be “obsolete.”
“Why doesn’t he leave? Why are we so afraid of this guy who can’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag?”
While promoting his latest Hulu comedy special, Drop Dead Years, Burr faced questions from host Terry Gross, to which he responded:
“First of all, I’m a stand-up comedian. It’s not my friggin’ job. I’m talking about Democratic politicians. Where is their pushback?… You can get canceled as a comedian for doing a frigging Caitlyn Jenner joke. But this a**hole can Sieg heil and nothing.”
This is not the first instance of Burr confronting right-wing figures; earlier in the month, he labeled far-right commentator Ben Shapiro a “jerk-off” after being labeled as “woke” by him.
Currently, Elon Musk is at the helm of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative set forth by the Trump administration aiming to “dismantle” bureaucratic inefficiencies in the United States. His appointment has not been without backlash, especially from Hollywood’s elite.
Comedian and actress Chelsea Handler, during an interview at the SXSW Film Festival, questioned the legitimacy of Musk’s influence, asking, “I mean, can’t we come together — Republicans and Democrats — and say we don’t want that? Can’t we agree on that at least?”
Additionally, Cate Blanchett, an Oscar-winning actress, humorously mentioned during her appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert that it was “good to be back in the United States of X,” referring to the controversial social landscape shaped by Musk.
As the discourse continues, Musk has yet to publicly respond to Burr’s incendiary comments.