Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an upcoming “major” interview with Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter). This interview is scheduled to take place on Monday night, as Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social. He promised more details would be provided soon.
Background and Context- Donald Trump vs Elon Musk
- Elon Musk’s Endorsement: Last month, Musk endorsed Donald Trump’s candidacy for the presidency after Trump was reportedly injured in an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania. This endorsement is notable as it departs from Musk’s usual stance of neutrality regarding political endorsements by social media platform leaders.
- Trump’s Social Media Return: After the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack, Donald Trump’s account was permanently suspended by Twitter’s previous ownership. Under Musk’s ownership, however, Trump’s account has been reinstated, allowing him to return to the platform now known as X.
- Political Support: Musk has pledged substantial financial support for Trump’s campaign, reportedly committing $45 million per month to a new political action committee (PAC) named America PAC. The PAC’s focus is on voter outreach and registration to counter the Democrats’ strong campaigning efforts.
- Recent Interviews: Trump recently participated in an interview with live streamer Adin Ross at his Mar-a-Lago residence. This interview reportedly helped the streaming platform ‘Kick’ break its viewing record.
Related Developments
- Democratic Ticket: Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming election.
- Concerns Over Misinformation: In a related issue, five secretaries of state have written an open letter to Elon Musk, urging him to make immediate changes to X’s AI chatbot, Grok, after it shared incorrect information about Kamala Harris’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot. The letter, led by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and signed by his counterparts from Pennsylvania, Washington, Michigan, and New Mexico, calls for Musk to ensure accurate information is provided to voters during this critical election year.
This anticipated interview between Trump and Musk is expected to draw significant attention, given the influence both figures wield in their respective spheres. It also highlights the growing interplay between social media platforms and political dynamics in the lead-up to the U.S. elections.
