Comedian Critiques Left’s Response to Kennedy and Musk

On “The Adam Carolla Show” Monday, comedian Adam Carolla expressed his views about how the left has reacted to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk. He suggested that this reaction reveals a level of dishonesty among their critics.

Both Kennedy and Musk have endured significant backlash from the left since they allied themselves with former President Donald Trump. Carolla pointed out that both have historically championed issues that resonate with left-leaning ideals. He noted, perhaps a bit incredulously, how quickly their former allies turned against them.

“You’ve got two major examples of left-wing hypocrisy… Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk. It’s clear now that you’ve been dishonest,” Carolla stated bluntly. He remarked that both figures were once embraced by the left and the Democratic Party. “I mean, Kennedy has devoted his life to suing big corporations over pollution,” Carolla added.

He continued to elaborate on Kennedy’s pedigree, saying, “This guy comes from a prominent family, part of what you might call the Democratic Party’s elite. He not only took on these large entities but did so passionately.” Carolla then compared Kennedy’s activism to Musk’s innovative contributions, like his role in popularizing electric vehicles. “You loved these guys at one time,” he insisted.

Carolla criticized the left for their opposition to Kennedy and Musk now that they have ties to Trump. He expressed that the left should be supportive of their efforts, particularly in light of their achievements. “It’s as though if you associate with Trump, you’re suddenly a bad person,” he remarked.

He further commented on the extreme swings in public perception, saying the narratives have shifted from praising Kennedy and Musk to labeling them as outcasts. “One moment they’re seen as innovators; the next, they’re cast as villains. That’s quite a leap,” he reflected. He even humorously questioned what the current mainstream narrative about Musk is, indicating some confusion about what he termed “crazy” criticisms.

Ultimately, Carolla suggested that regular people would see the value in what Kennedy and Musk are trying to achieve. “This is all rooted in a kind of dishonesty on the left,” he remarked, implying that their attacks reveal more about themselves than the individuals they’re targeting.

Kennedy, traditionally a Democrat, declared his intention to run as an independent in October 2023 after initially challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination. Musk, after previously supporting Democratic candidates, has now endorsed Trump for the 2024 election and has financially backed his campaign.

Harry Enten, a data analyst with CNN, noted in March 2025 that perceptions of Musk among Democrats have soured drastically over the years. He shared that Musk enjoyed considerable favorability within the party in 2017, but that rating had plummeted significantly, illustrating a sharp decline in public opinion.