Elon Musk’s highly anticipated discussion with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Musk’s platform, X, was marred by significant technical issues. The event, which was scheduled to be a live interview, began over 40 minutes late due to difficulties many users experienced while trying to access the stream.
The conversation, which saw Musk asking Trump-friendly questions on topics such as immigration and inflation, was billed as an interview but largely allowed Trump to make a series of unchallenged and often unsubstantiated claims. Musk, who has become an increasingly influential figure in politics, reiterated his support for Trump, despite the former president’s controversial record. The conversation comes as Trump seeks to reinvigorate his re-election campaign against a resurgent Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced President Joe Biden on the ticket.
Musk blamed the technical glitches on a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, an assertion that some experts questioned. While Musk suggested that the issues were due to a cyber-attack intended to disrupt the event, other experts speculated that the sheer volume of users trying to join the stream could have caused the crash. The situation was reminiscent of a similar technical failure that plagued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s entry into the presidential race on the same platform in 2023.
Throughout the conversation, Trump and Musk discussed a range of topics, including immigration, where Trump promised the “largest deportations in history” if re-elected, and his desire to see the U.S. adopt a missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome. Trump also floated the idea of dismantling the federal Department of Education, shifting its responsibilities to individual states. He expressed admiration for Argentina’s President Javier Milei and joked about moving to Venezuela if his re-election bid fails.
Trump used the platform to voice his discontent with Kamala Harris, whom he described as a “radical left lunatic,” and criticized the Democratic Party’s decision to replace Biden with Harris, calling it a “coup.” The former president also complained about inflation, claiming it to be the worst in a century, and lamented what he sees as the current administration’s mismanagement of the economy.
Musk, in turn, voiced his concerns about Harris and praised Trump’s leadership, referring to the 2024 election as a “critical juncture” for the country. Despite their past differences, the conversation between Musk and Trump was marked by mutual praise, with Trump lauding Musk’s business achievements and Musk endorsing Trump’s vision for America.
Overall, the interview was a reflection of the close relationship that has developed between the two men, despite their differing backgrounds and past disagreements. It also highlighted Musk’s growing role in the political landscape, as he continues to use his platform to influence public discourse and shape the narrative around key issues facing the country.
