As we approach the end of 2024, Nick Jonas and Elon Musk have teamed up for one of the strangest celebrity crossovers in recent memory—definitely not what we expected to round out the year.
So, what happens when a pop star from a boy band and a billionaire with connections to the presidency interact on X (formerly Twitter)? No, this isn’t the setup to some odd joke, but rather the surprising encounter between Jonas and Musk. It all started when Musk shared a viral GIF on X, featuring Nick and his brothers (Joe and Kevin, for those of us who remember Camp Rock) turning a wooden table. This GIF is a throwback to a 2008 YouTube video, where the Jonas Brothers were seen literally “turning the tables” on a popular phrase, and it became a viral moment. Fast forward 16 years, Musk resurrected the GIF in response to a post celebrating Tesla’s success, particularly the rise in Tesla’s value after Musk’s support for Donald Trump.
The post read, “Wait…. everyone thought Elon Musk was destroying the brand of Tesla and he shouldn’t be involved in politics. Tesla is up 100% since Donald Trump won!” Musk thought this moment was perfect for a “tables turning” reference, but some might argue that tweeting about your own success through a meme might not be the most presidential move (especially when the actual president already has his own, shall we say, colorful social media presence).
Nick Jonas, of course, caught wind of this viral interaction and responded in a way that felt like a fangirl moment. His reply, “Take us to the year 3000,” along with an image of Musk pointing forward, presumably towards the distant future, left people scratching their heads. While we can’t be sure exactly what Nick meant, his comment may be a playful nod to Musk’s space ambitions with SpaceX and his drive to reach Mars (though, given how much is happening on Earth, some might wonder why we need to rush to the future just yet).
Some people interpreted Nick’s comment as a form of support for Musk, which led to a wave of criticism. One user called it a “choice,” while others begged Nick to delete the post, questioning if it was a Trump-related comment or something that should be addressed by his wife, Priyanka Chopra.
However, it’s important to note that Nick has publicly supported Joe Biden in the past, so his playful comment to Musk may not necessarily imply any political support for the billionaire. Nick hasn’t followed in the footsteps of many celebrities who distanced themselves from X after Trump’s victory in the past, and some speculated that his interaction with Musk might simply be a lighthearted, unaware moment. If and when Nick fully realizes all the controversial factors tied to Musk’s actions—including disinformation, controversial jokes, and political implications—he may understand why some fans are concerned. Until then, we’ll be left to wonder if the tables are truly turning or if this is just another playful celebrity interaction in the wild world of social media.