Donald Trump's interview with Elon Musk on Musk's social media platform X was marred by technical difficulties that delayed its start by over 40 minutes. Musk attributed the problems to a possible distributed denial-of-service attack, though this was unverified. Despite the issues, over 1.3 million users tuned in to the interview, during which Trump attempted to make light of the situation and congratulated Musk on the large audience.
The conversation featured Trump discussing various topics, including his views on global leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, and his complaints about the current Democratic ticket. He claimed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president and criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, falsely alleging a "coup" in her replacing Biden on the ticket. The interview also saw Trump praising Musk for his aggressive management style, particularly his approach to firing workers.
Musk, who has endorsed Trump, used the interview to express support for Trump and his past claims, including those about voter fraud. Musk has also formed a super PAC to support Trump's campaign, which is currently under investigation for potential legal violations in Michigan. Trump's return to X and the interview come at a time when his campaign faces challenges from Kamala Harris's increasing popularity and the Democratic National Convention.
Trump's access to his X account was restored after being suspended post-January 6, 2021, and he has used it to revive his public presence. Although Trump primarily posts on his Truth Social platform, which has a smaller reach, his return to X allows him to reach a broader audience. Despite previously criticizing electric vehicles, Trump has aligned himself with Musk's endorsement, reflecting a shift in his stance due to Musk's political support.
