The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Episode: Elon Backstabs Trump, Destroys His Big Beautiful Bill | Tyler Perry & Taraji P. Henson, Brianne Howey, Owen Cooper
Release Date: June 4, 2025

Introduction and Monologue

The episode kicks off from Studio 6P in New York City’s Rock and Miller Center, where Jimmy Fallon delivers a lively monologue packed with current events and humorous takes on recent news.

Political Jabs: Fallon opens with a sharp critique of former President Donald Trump's proposed legislation. Referencing Elon Musk's recent commentary, Fallon highlights Musk’s scathing remarks about the bill, labeling it a "massive, outrageous, pork filled" [00:11]. He playfully notes Trump's indifferent response, saying, “I don't know what you're talking about, but I'll take two,” jesting about the bill being something you can “eat” [00:29]. Musk's concerns about the bill "burdening American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt" are emphasized, with Fallon quipping, “You know the bill is bad when it makes Elon Musk worry about money” [00:43].

White House News: Shifting to lighter news, Fallon humorously critiques the newly unveiled official portrait of President Trump, comparing it unfavorably to J.D. Vance’s portrait, exclaiming, “That's not fair. That's rude” [01:15].

Tech and Business Updates: Highlighting Elon Musk’s ventures, Fallon mentions the upcoming launch of X Chat, Musk’s competitor to WhatsApp, noting its potential impact with, “if you see X Chat on your husband's credit card bill, that's something else” [02:02].

In a nod to the airline industry, Fallon amusingly describes the partnership between JetBlue and United Airlines, only to follow up with a parody advertisement for Spirit and Frontier Airlines. The spoof ad includes outrageous claims like “shots with the pilot” and “emotional support raccoon,” prompting laughter from both Taraji P. Henson and the audience [03:13 - 03:30].

Snack Food Legislation: Fallon transitions to addressing a new Texas bill mandating warning labels on snack foods. He creatively illustrates the absurdity of such legislation by inventing humorous warnings for various snacks:

• Stacy's Pita Chips: “The chip that you're chewing on might also be your shattered tooth.”
• Werther's Originals: “If you eat more than three, you automatically turn into Bernie Sanders.”
• Tic Tacs: “The maraca in your pants lets everyone know old stank breath is a comin’ maraca.”

He humorously concludes this segment with, “We basically just gorilla glued a bunch of random nuts together” for Kind bars [03:51 - 04:20].

Toddler on Conveyor Belt: Adding a touch of dark humor, Fallon recounts a bizarre incident where a two-year-old was rescued after riding the baggage conveyor belt at Newark Airport, quipping, “the toddler was their air traffic controller” [04:21].

Beatbox Quest: To wrap up the monologue, Fallon introduces a beatbox segment, showcasing his playful side with a self-created rap that touches on various news snippets [05:00].

Guest Introductions and Performances

Root's Performance: Before delving into guest interviews, the musical group The Roots delivers a high-energy performance, setting an upbeat tone for the evening [07:03].

Interview with Tyler Perry & Taraji P. Henson

Promoting "Straw": Jimmy Fallon welcomes Tyler Perry and Taraji P. Henson to discuss their new Netflix movie, Tyler Perry's Straw. Taraji introduces her book, Papa Doesn't Do Anything, a heartfelt tribute to fathers and grandfathers, sharing, “I raised him as my own” when humorously referring to her character’s lawyer [07:03 - 08:08].

On-Set Anecdotes: The conversation takes a comedic turn as Fallon and Taraji exchange playful banter about Taraji’s fictitious son, Cliffhanger, who becomes a lawyer and ends up in prison representing himself. Taraji quips, “He only had one phone call. Ghostbusters” [07:22 - 08:08].

Plot and Themes of "Straw": Taraji delves into the movie’s themes, emphasizing the importance of kindness and understanding struggles, stating, “never, ever underestimate what somebody's going through” [16:14 - 17:10]. Fallon echoes this sentiment, adding personal anecdotes about spreading kindness in daily life [16:18 - 16:28].

Closing Thoughts: The segment concludes with heartfelt praise for the film and its impactful message, as Fallon enthusiastically promotes the movie's premiere on Netflix [17:57 - 17:57].

Interview with Brianne Howey

Discussion on "Ginny and Georgia": Brianne Howey joins the show to discuss the upcoming third season of Ginny and Georgia, streaming on June 5th. Fallon congratulates her on becoming a mother, to which Howey shares her experience of balancing motherhood with her acting career [18:50 - 19:04].

Real Housewives and Personal Stories: The conversation shifts to Howey’s love for the Real Housewives series. She humorously recounts her labor experience, attributing her timely delivery to watching Real Housewives of Orange County and encountering themed nurses [21:05 - 22:07]. She shares a funny story about her husband’s detour to Egg Slut during labor, adding a lighthearted touch to the interview [22:07 - 23:09].

Insights on Season Three: Howey provides insights into the new season’s emotional and dramatic arcs, pondering whether Ginny and Georgia will stay together or part ways. She reflects on how motherhood has deepened her connection with her character, Georgia [23:13 - 24:08].

Interview with Owen Cooper

Role in "Adolescence": Owen Cooper discusses his role in Adolescence, one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. Fallon praises his performance, and Cooper shares behind-the-scenes challenges, including on-set mishaps and the intense filming process [25:14 - 34:10].

Cultural Exchange and Humor: Cooper and Howey engage in a playful exchange about British versus American snacks, tasting Maltesers and Sour Patch Kids. Their light-hearted interactions provide comic relief and showcase their camaraderie [25:17 - 35:07].

Fan Interactions and Accolades: Howey shares amusing anecdotes about receiving praise from industry giants like Leonardo DiCaprio and Stephen Graham, expressing both surprise and humility [31:34 - 32:43]. She also discusses the intricacies of acting in a one-shot format show, revealing the pressures and humor involved [32:43 - 34:21].

Final Remarks: As the interviews conclude, Fallon wraps up by highlighting the show's ongoing success and thanking the guests for their appearances. He promotes the latest season updates and upcoming projects, ensuring the audience remains engaged [35:07 - 37:22].

Closing

The episode concludes with a live performance and Fallon's signature sign-off, reminding listeners to subscribe for the latest episodes and tune in weeknights on NBC or streaming on Peacock [37:21 - 37:22].

Notable Quotes and Highlights

• Elon Musk on Trump's Bill:
  “The bill would burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.” [00:43]

• Taraji P. Henson on Kindness:
  “A little bit of kindness can change someone's whole world.” [16:14]

• Brianne Howey’s Labor Story:
  “I was in a good space because I had the support of the Real Housewives memes everywhere.” [21:35]

• Owen Cooper on Acting Challenges:
  “You can't really act a yawn, can you? I mean, that was pretty good, to be fair.” [34:10]

This episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon masterfully blends humor with heartfelt discussions, featuring star-studded guests who share personal stories and insights into their latest projects. From satirical political commentary to engaging interviews and playful games, Fallon ensures an entertaining and memorable evening for his audience.