Trump brings X back with Musk interview
Ex-President Donald Trump is returning to X for a chat with tech tycoon Elon Musk on Monday night, seeking new voter bases through various channels.
Musk, with 193.8 million followers on X, announced the unscripted conversation with Trump at 8 p.m., delayed due to a “massive DDOS attack” according to Musk.
While Trump primarily uses his platform Truth Social, he made his first X post in nearly a year on Monday, sharing a campaign video hinting at his legal challenges and promoting the interview.
The promotion of the livestream event with the hashtag “#TrumpOnX” circulated widely on X.
Prior to the interview, the EU cautioned Musk to comply with its laws, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with a large audience. Musk faced criticism for his posts, including misinformation that fueled violence in the UK.
Criticism prompted Musk to blame UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his handling of riots in England, while Trump’s campaign fired back at the EU for meddling in the U.S. election.
In light of Musk’s recent endorsement, Trump reciprocated the support, endorsing Trump after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Trump lauded Musk, despite his previous criticism of electric vehicles.
During his campaign, Trump frequently praised Musk and expressed admiration for him, despite his criticism of electric vehicles, a sector in which Musk’s company, Tesla, is a key player.
Trump acknowledged his support for electric cars, citing Musk’s endorsement, even though he highlighted the high cost of charging such vehicles.
Trump’s comments on electric vehicles, despite his endorsement of them due to Musk’s support, were made during a rally in Atlanta, where he criticized the high costs associated with charging electric cars.
Trump’s account suspension from Twitter in 2021 led to Musk taking over the platform and renaming it X. Trump’s account was reinstated after Musk’s intervention.
MORE: Trump campaign claims it was hacked by ‘foreign sources’
Trump is active on Truth Social but briefly returned to X last year to fundraise using his mugshot from Fulton County jail, amid legal troubles.
Trump’s return to X led to a drop in Truth Social’s stock value, highlighting the company’s financial struggles and fluctuating stock prices.
Amidst these challenges, Trump is bound by a “Social Media Exclusivity Term,” requiring him to prioritize posting on Truth Social over other platforms, except for politically-related posts.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now X, has given Trump a new platform to express his views, with Musk ensuring smooth operations for their upcoming interview.