Elon Musk’s much-hyped interview with Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) finally took place on Monday, but not without its share of drama, technical glitches, and controversial statements.
The event, which attracted over a million spectators, offered a glimpse into the evolving relationship between the world’s richest man and the former US president.
Trump Musk interview
Throughout the interview, Musk maintained a notably friendly demeanor, offering little pushback against Trump’s claims.
The tech billionaire also suggested he could help in a future Trump administration as part of a “government efficiency commission.”
First off, cyber attack claims! Because why not…
Cyber attack claims
The interview was off to a rocky start, delayed by more than 40 minutes due to what Musk claimed was a “massive DDoS attack” on X.
X also claims the Space received 73 million views, while X users generated 4 million, generating another 998 million views.
Combined views of the conversation with @realDonaldTrump and subsequent discussion by other accounts now ~1 billion https://t.co/s8x8QmdmnY
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2024
While some experts questioned this explanation, the technical issues recalled the platform’s struggles during Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s campaign launch in May 2023.
I’ll embed Trump’s interview below.
Political implications
The interview comes at a crucial time for Trump’s campaign as he faces a resurgent Democratic ticket led by Kamala Harris.
Critics argue that Musk’s platform provided Trump with an unchallenged opportunity to air his views to a massive audience.
A Harris campaign spokesperson responded, saying, “Trump’s entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself — self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.”
Trump’s talking points
Once underway, the two-hour conversation saw Trump revisiting many of his familiar themes and controversial claims:
- Immigration: Trump warned about “rough people” entering the country, repeating unsubstantiated claims about criminals crossing the border. He also made a sweeping statement about “Africans being criminals.”
- Political rivals: Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “incompetent” and a “radical left lunatic,” while bizarrely praising her appearance on a Time magazine cover.
- Foreign relations: Ex-45 also spoke positively about authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, describing them as “at the top of their game.”
- Climate change: He dismissed global warming concerns. Trump believes the biggest threat is not global warming, “where the ocean is going to rise one-eighth of an inch over the next 400 years.”
Listen: Musk and Trump’s interview
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2024
Looking ahead
It remains to be seen how Trump’s return to X (he posted for the first time in a year just hours before the interview) will impact the platform and the broader political discourse in the months to come.
While Musk and Trump may have found common ground, the event has raised questions about platform neutrality, the role of tech billionaires in politics, and the challenges of moderating high-profile political content in the digital age.
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