Jeremy Clarkson takes a jab at Elon Musk as Tesla sales plummet amid his role in the Trump administration
Jeremy Clarkson is reveling in what he calls his “victory” over Elon Musk, nearly two decades after the Tesla CEO sued him for defamation. The former Top Gear host, known for his sharp tongue and no-holds-barred opinions, has taken a swipe at Musk’s recent misfortunes, particularly Tesla’s plummeting sales following the billionaire’s controversial appointment to Donald Trump’s administration.
Back in 2008, Musk filed a lawsuit against Clarkson and the BBC after the presenter harshly criticized the Tesla Roadster on Top Gear. Clarkson’s review was nothing short of brutal—he called the car “unreliable,” “ridiculously expensive,” and even compared its weight to that of a moon. Tesla’s legal action was eventually dismissed in 2013, but according to Clarkson, Musk has never gotten over it.
Clarkson Takes a Victory Lap
In his latest column for The Times, Clarkson reflected on the lawsuit, mocking Musk’s persistence.
“He still claims I was biased and that we pretended his car had broken down when it hadn’t. Even though it had,” Clarkson wrote.
Instead of retaliating with a countersuit, Clarkson said he decided to wait for Musk’s downfall—which, in his eyes, has finally arrived.
Embed from Getty Images“I should really have sued him back, but I feared he’d call me a paedo, so instead I just waited on the riverbank for his body to float past. And now it has.”
Tesla’s troubles have been mounting, with sales tanking both in the US and globally. The decline has been attributed to Musk’s new role within the Trump administration, which has alienated a significant portion of Tesla’s customer base. Once a champion of electric vehicles, Musk is now facing backlash from environmentalists and progressive buyers, many of whom have distanced themselves from the brand.
Musk’s Response: ‘Clarkson Was Always Biased’
Musk, for his part, has never let go of the grudge. Over the years, he has repeatedly criticized Clarkson’s review, accusing the presenter of faking the Roadster’s breakdown for entertainment value.
Speaking about the lawsuit in a past interview, Musk stated:
“Clarkson’s show is more about entertainment than truth. He can be very funny and irreverent, but he has a strong bias against electric cars—especially American ones.”
Despite Musk’s attempts to discredit Clarkson, the former Top Gear presenter remains unapologetic, standing by his original review. He insists that his car tests were always fair, even if his commentary was provocative.
Now, with Tesla struggling and Musk facing growing opposition, Clarkson appears to be enjoying the long-overdue vindication he’s been waiting for.
