What was intended to be a triumphant return to social media for Donald Trump turned into a technically flawed evening, as a much anticipated livestreamed conversation between Trump and X owner Elon Musk on Monday was delayed by technical issues.
The conversation, set to be a hallmark moment for Trump on a platform that once played a central role during his presidency, was postponed by 40 minutes due to what Musk later attributed to a cyberattack.
Despite the shaky start, once the dialogue began, it highlighted the growing friendship between the former president and the billionaire tech entrepreneur, with Musk pitching softball questions that allowed Trump to reiterate his well-worn campaign talking points.
The discussion, lasting over two hours on X’s audio livestreaming platform, Spaces, offered little in the way of new information about Trump’s political views.
Instead, it served as a platform for Trump to repeat claims that have become staples of his campaign.
He took the opportunity to attack Vice President Kamala Harris as a “phony,” criticising her and President Joe Biden for their handling of U.S. border security.
Trump also repeated his assertion that the 2020 election was rigged and claimed that the criminal cases against him were orchestrated by the Biden administration to undermine his candidacy.
Additionally, Trump alleged that foreign leaders were intentionally sending criminals to the United States.
Musk, who has been vocal about his contempt for the mainstream media, largely agreed with Trump’s assertions, offering praise and avoiding any challenge to the former president’s claims.
Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X last year, was clear about the non-adversarial nature of the conversation.
He stated, “I want to emphasise it’s a conversation, and it’s really intended to just get a feel for what Donald Trump is just like in a conversation.”
Towards the end of their discussion, Musk described himself as “moderate, if not moderate, slightly left,” and encouraged listeners who identified similarly to support Trump.
He also distanced himself from a traditional journalistic role, noting that his aim was not to conduct an “adversarial” interview but to help “open-minded, independent voters” simply “catch a vibe.”
The technical difficulties that delayed the conversation recalled similar issues during another political event Musk hosted last year, when glitches marred Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign announcement on the platform.
While Monday’s conversation drew over a million listeners, according to X, the glitches and delays risked overshadowing the content of the conversation itself.
Trump used the discussion to further his ongoing criticism of Harris, mocking her for not holding a formal news conference and avoiding interviews with journalists.
He contrasted this with his willingness to engage in conversations, framing his discussion with Musk as part of his broader efforts to recapture political momentum and extend his appeal beyond his usual media platforms.
The conversation marked a notable shift in the relationship between Trump and Musk, who had previously been critical of each other.
Musk’s political views have evolved as he grew increasingly frustrated with Democratic policies on transgender rights, immigration, and what he perceives as the Biden administration’s mistreatment of Tesla.
This change culminated in Musk’s endorsement of Trump after the former president survived an assassination attempt in July.
Musk, who co-founded a super PAC to support Republican ground efforts, has become a significant ally for Trump.
In return, Trump has softened his longstanding criticism of electric vehicles, particularly those produced by Tesla, though he continues to highlight what he sees as their shortcomings.
As Trump returned to X after a prolonged absence, posting campaign videos and attacks on Harris, the conversation with Musk provided a platform for both men to air their grievances and rally their supporters.
However, whether this appearance will bolster Trump’s campaign or Musk’s efforts to restore confidence in X remains to be seen.
A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign, Joseph Costello, was quick to criticise the pair’s discussion, noting the technical issues and dismissing the conversation as serving only the interests of “self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class.”
Costello added, “Trump’s entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.”
