Former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk engaged in a high-profile conversation on X (formerly Twitter) Monday night, but their interview was delayed by over 40 minutes due to technical difficulties, including what Musk described as a possible distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack.
A Delayed Start for the Musk-Trump Interview
The much-anticipated interview between Donald Trump and Elon Musk faced a rocky start when technical issues delayed their conversation. Musk attributed the delay to a DDOS attack, which occurs when hackers flood a site with excessive traffic, attempting to overwhelm its servers. Musk shared on X, “There appears to be a massive DDOS attack on X. Working on shutting it down.”
Despite the challenges, the interview eventually proceeded, albeit with fewer live listeners than initially expected. Musk had earlier tested the system with 8 million concurrent listeners, but the technical difficulties marred the start of the event.
Trump’s Return to X
This conversation marked Trump’s return to X after a nearly year-long hiatus. The last time Trump posted on the platform was in August 2023, when he shared his mugshot following his processing at an Atlanta jail related to the Georgia election subversion case. Since resuming activity on X, Trump gained around 900,000 new followers by Monday night.
Softball Questions and Mutual Praise
During the interview, Elon Musk asked Donald Trump a series of softball questions that allowed the former president to reiterate his usual talking points on immigration and the economy. Musk did not challenge Trump on any of his controversial claims, creating a friendly atmosphere throughout the conversation.
The two men exchanged compliments, with Musk stating, “I think we’re at a fork in the road of destiny of civilization and I think we need to take the right path, and I think you’re the right path.” Trump, in turn, expressed his appreciation for Musk’s endorsement, saying, “Your endorsement meant a lot to me.”
Broad Topics and Bold Claims
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including energy policy, climate change, the threat of nuclear warfare, immigration, and federal government spending. Trump even mentioned the possibility of the “largest deportation in the history of this country,” while Musk suggested forming a new presidential commission focused on “government efficiency,” with himself as a potential appointee. Trump responded enthusiastically, “I’d love it.”
At one point, Trump retold the story of surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, praising the Secret Service for their quick response.
Controversial Remarks and Criticism
Trump also made controversial statements, including unsubstantiated claims that Democrats were orchestrating a coup to remove President Joe Biden from the ballot. He criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, referencing her appearance on a Time magazine cover, and took jabs at Biden’s mental state. He even suggested that Jewish people who vote for Democrats should have their “heads examined.”
Trump’s speech attracted attention online, with some users noting a possible lisp or slurred words during the interview. When asked for an explanation, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded dismissively, “Must be your hearing.”
Reactions and Comparisons
The Harris campaign criticized the Musk-Trump interview, calling them “self-obsessed rich guys” who are out of touch with the middle class. Joseph Costello, a spokesman for the Harris campaign, remarked, “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.”
The rocky start of the Musk-Trump interview drew comparisons to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ failed attempt to launch his presidential campaign last year via a Twitter Spaces event with Musk. That event was also plagued by technical issues, leading to a smaller-than-expected audience. At the time, Trump mocked DeSantis’ botched launch, calling it a “DISASTER!” on his Truth Social platform.
The Harris campaign capitalized on the delayed start of Trump’s interview by sharing his past comments about DeSantis on social media.
Conclusion
The Musk-Trump interview, despite its technical difficulties, highlighted the continuing alliance between two influential figures, Elon Musk and Donald Trump. While the event faced challenges, it underscored Trump’s return to the digital stage and set the tone for his ongoing campaign efforts.