On August 12, 2024, Elon Musk hosted a controversial two-hour interview with Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter), which drew over 1.3 million viewers despite significant technical difficulties. The conversation, delayed by over 40 minutes due to what Musk described as a ‘massive DDOS attack’ on the platform, covered a wide range of topics and has since sparked debate over X’s moderation policies.Trump began by discussing his recent assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was reportedly shot in the ear. He expressed gratitude for what he called a ‘miracle’ and announced plans to return to the site in October. Musk praised Trump’s ‘courage and steadfastness’ in response to the attack.The conversation then turned to more contentious subjects. Trump made several controversial statements, including comparing undocumented immigrants to ‘zombies’ and accusing the Biden administration of a ‘coup d’état’. He also praised authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, claiming that if he were still president, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine.Musk largely agreed with Trump’s views, particularly on immigration and government spending. He labeled Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now running for president instead of Joe Biden, as a ‘far-left candidate’. Musk also hinted at a potential role in a future Trump administration, suggesting he could join a commission to ensure efficient use of taxpayer money.The interview has raised concerns about X’s role in potentially spreading misinformation and its lax moderation policies. Critics argue that the platform’s history of hosting far-right content makes such high-profile political events risky. The European Commission had previously warned Musk about X’s content moderation practices.This event comes at a critical time for Trump’s campaign, which has reportedly struggled since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Recent polls suggest Trump is now trailing Harris in some key battleground states.
Key points
- Elon Musk hosted a controversial two-hour interview with Donald Trump on X, drawing over 1.
- Trump discussed his recent assassination attempt and made contentious statements about immigration and the Biden administration.
- Musk largely agreed with Trump’s views and hinted at a potential role in a future Trump administration.
- The interview has raised concerns about X’s role in potentially spreading misinformation and its moderation policies.
3 million viewers despite technical difficulties.
Contradictions👾While Musk attributed the technical difficulties to a ‘massive DDOS attack’, a source within the company disputed this claim.
👾Trump’s claim of attracting 60 million viewers to the Space was not supported by reported figures, which indicated over 1.
3 million viewers.
