Elon Musk’s conversation with Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) was highly anticipated but experienced technical difficulties that delayed the start by over 40 minutes. The discussion, which was characterized by friendly exchanges, covered various topics, including immigration, inflation, and the possibility of implementing an “Iron Dome” missile defense system in the U.S. However, Trump’s claims during the conversation went largely unchallenged.
Technical Issues and Cyber-Attack Claims- Musk
The event faced significant technical problems, with many users struggling to access the livestream. Musk attributed these issues to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, although cybersecurity experts have expressed skepticism about this explanation. Anthony Lim, Director of the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and International Studies, noted that a DDoS attack typically affects multiple services or features on a website, making it unlikely to target a single service. Andrew Hay from IT firm Damovo suggested that a cyber-attack could have caused the problems, but it’s also possible that the high volume of users trying to access the stream temporarily overwhelmed the service.
Political Context
The conversation on X comes as Trump seeks to revive his re-election campaign in light of Vice President Kamala Harris entering the race after President Joe Biden stepped aside. Elon Musk, who has become a significant political figure, reaffirmed his support for Trump, praising him as the “path to prosperity” and contrasting him with Harris. The relationship between Musk and Trump has evolved over the years, moving from public disagreements to a more amicable exchange.
Discussion Highlights
During the conversation, Trump expressed a desire to close the federal Department of Education, transferring its responsibilities to the states. He also praised Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, despite his previous skepticism toward electric vehicles and federal subsidies. The dialogue included mutual admiration, with Musk offering to help Trump’s administration, and Trump acknowledging Tesla’s success.
Trump’s Return to X
This event marked Trump’s partial return to X after being banned following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Although his account was reactivated in 2022, he has primarily used his Truth Social platform for communication. It remains unclear if Trump will increase his activity on X moving forward, beyond campaign advertisements and sporadic posts.
