Elon Musk to Interview Donald Trump on X: A High-Stakes Conversation Amid Tumultuous U.S. Election
In a move that could introduce further surprises into the already unpredictable U.S. presidential election, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is set to interview Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the X social media network on Monday. The event, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time, promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2024 campaign, with the potential to significantly influence the course of the election.
Trump’s Bid to Reignite His Campaign
As the former president’s campaign appears to be losing momentum, this interview provides a crucial opportunity for Trump to recapture the public’s attention. His Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, has closed the gap in opinion polls and energized her base with a series of high-energy rallies, posing a significant challenge to Trump’s re-election bid.
Reaching Beyond the Conservative Base
The interview on Musk’s platform, formerly known as Twitter, allows Trump to connect with a broader audience beyond the conservative followers who frequent his rallies and tune into his Fox News appearances. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the event, given that similar broadcasts on X have faced technical difficulties. Musk acknowledged this on the platform, stating that he would be conducting system scaling tests in preparation for the interview.
Trump’s Return to X
The interview marks Trump’s return to X after his account, @realDonaldTrump, was reinstated following Musk’s acquisition of the platform. Trump, who has been more active on his own Truth Social platform, posted on X for the first time in a year on Monday morning, sharing an ad that emphasized his belief that the criminal charges against him are politically motivated. His last post on X before this was in August 2023, where he appealed for donations following his indictment in Georgia related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Musk’s Unconventional Role
Musk, the world’s richest person and CEO of Tesla Inc., could play an unconventional role as the interviewer. Although he supported Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020, Musk has since shifted to the right, endorsing Trump and even starting a fundraising organization to back his campaign. This political action committee is under investigation in Michigan for potential violations related to gathering voter information.
Once a critic of electric vehicles, Trump has modified his stance since receiving Musk’s endorsement. “I’m for electric cars. I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice,” Trump said at a rally in early August. However, this shift has not gone unnoticed. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fein, campaigning in support of Harris, labeled Trump a “sellout.”
Controversies Surrounding Musk
Musk’s involvement in the election comes amid a series of controversies. According to civil rights groups, his ownership of X has been marked by a sharp increase in hate speech as he reduced content moderation on the platform. Furthermore, Musk has been criticized for promoting false claims, such as accusing the Biden administration of opening U.S. borders to undocumented immigrants to boost potential Democratic voters—despite the fact that non-citizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections.
In November 2023, Musk faced backlash for endorsing an antisemitic post on X, which claimed that members of the Jewish community were inciting hatred against white people. Musk defended his actions, insisting the post conveyed “the actual truth.” He has also attacked the Anti-Defamation League, blaming it, without evidence, for the decline in advertising on X.
As the interview approaches, the stakes are high for both Trump and Musk. For Trump, it is a chance to revitalize his campaign, while for Musk, it is an opportunity to shape a pivotal moment in the 2024 election—though it comes with significant risks given the controversies surrounding both men.