Elon Musk’s recent interview with Donald Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, encountered significant technical difficulties, which Musk attributed to a cyber attack. This much-anticipated dialogue, aimed at appealing to “open-minded independent voters,” commenced over 40 minutes late, frustrating many users who struggled to access the stream.
Musk, at the helm of X, formerly Twitter, reported that a distributed denial of services (DDoS) attack “saturated all of our data lines.” As the two-hour discussion progressed, Musk reaffirmed his endorsement of Trump and urged moderate voters to support the Republican’s campaign, stating, “Here’s to an exciting, inspiring future that people can look forward to and be optimistic and excited about what happens next.”
The rocky start to the conversation mirrors past events, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ announcement for the White House race, which also experienced livestream issues. As the session unfolded, Musk claimed the cyber attack illustrated the resistance within the U.S. to Trump’s messaging.
While definitive details regarding the cause of the technical issues remain unclear, experts suggested that the high volume of users attempting to listen may have led to service disruptions. Musk noted, however, that tests prior to the live chat indicated the system could accommodate “8 million concurrent listeners,” yet only about one million were present during the discussion.
The Trump campaign seeks to refresh its re-election strategy amid a tightening race, particularly with Vice-President Kamala Harris emerging as the Democratic frontrunner following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal last month. The upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago is poised to further energize Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
In his interview, Trump criticized Harris for her infrequent media engagements since accepting the nomination. Musk emphasized the significance of such forums, allowing candidates to express themselves fully. Trump, growing closer in his relations with Musk over time, acknowledged the quality of Tesla vehicles and expressed tacit support for electric vehicles due to Musk’s influence.
Musk’s growing political sway is evident, and he recently formed a new political committee in support of Trump’s candidacy. However, his platform faces scrutiny from the EU regarding compliance with digital content laws aimed at countering misinformation.
During the conversation, Trump addressed a myriad of topics, including his views on national defense, immigration policy, and plans to eliminate the federal Department of Education, should he win the presidency. He also commented on Biden’s exit from the race, attributing it to intra-party pressures.
Following the event, the Harris campaign derided both Musk and Trump, branding them as “self-obsessed rich guys” incapable of managing a livestream in 2024.
This interview marks a significant moment in the political landscape as candidates adapt to new modes of communication and engagement with voters ahead of the upcoming election.
