Elon Helped Trump Gain 1 Million Listeners for His Greatest Hits

On Monday, former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk engaged in a live-streamed conversation on Musk’s social media platform, X. This highly anticipated event marked Trump’s return to the platform, which he had not used since his ban following the events of January 6, 2021.

The live stream faced a significant delay due to what Musk attributed to a “massive DDoS attack,” although no evidence confirmed such an occurrence. Similar issues had plagued prior events featuring Musk, including an interview with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year.

After a 42-minute wait, Musk opened the stream by suggesting that the alleged attack was indicative of the resistance against allowing Trump a platform to communicate his messages.

The conversation kicked off with Trump recounting an assassination attempt from mid-July, a topic he had previously claimed he would not revisit publicly. This segment alone spanned 15 minutes and provided an insight into Trump’s perspective on the incident, which he discussed in detail.

As the discussion progressed, the audience peaked at 1,324,994 viewers. Following the serious reflection on the assassination attempt, Trump and Musk turned their attention to the issue of illegal immigration. Trump alleged that nations such as Venezuela were sending what he described as their “nonproductive people” and criminals, labeling them as “murderers” and “rapists” entering the U.S.

Trump’s assertions included claims about crime trends, stating, “Here’s what’s happening: crime all over the world is down.” He indicated that migrant-related crime was a significant concern, though the latest FBI Quarterly Crime Report shows a notable decline in violent crime this year compared to the last.

During their discourse on immigration, Trump launched pointed criticism toward Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he accused of incompetence regarding the ongoing surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. “We cannot have her; she’s incompetent — she’s as bad as Biden,” Trump asserted.

While Trump dominated much of the dialogue, Musk interjected selectively, especially on topics related to government spending. Musk expressed willingness to contribute to a government efficiency commission, to which Trump responded enthusiastically, hailing Musk’s reputation as a significant cost-cutter.

Trump praised Musk’s straightforward approach to labor disputes, speaking to Musk’s decision-making with strikingly direct comments on employee strikes. “You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump proclaimed, implying that Musk’s techniques would be beneficial in a governmental role.

Interestingly, the National Labor Relations Board dismissed claims against Musk’s Tesla regarding illegal firings of employees attempting to unionize. Tesla has long faced criticism for its reputation concerning union practices.

Trump’s commendation of Musk for his dealings regarding union issues did not go unnoticed. The Harris campaign seized the moment, sharing a clip from the conversation accompanied by a critical caption of Trump’s praise for Musk’s aggressive approach in labor negotiations.

Additionally, Trump indicated he would “need an Elon Musk” to overhaul the Department of Education, advocating for a decentralized education system managed by states. Trump’s comments reflected on the variability of state performance, noting that while some states might thrive, others like California under Governor Gavin Newsom would struggle.

After about an hour into their dialogue, Trump commended Musk for relocating SpaceX’s headquarters from California. The conversation moved toward environmental issues, where Musk, a former environmental champion, adopted a more moderate stance, asserting, “I don’t think we should vilify the oil and gas industry.”

Despite their recent camaraderie, Trump’s and Musk’s relationship has not always been close. Musk had previously distanced himself from Trump after the U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement. After years of cultivating a connection grounded in shared criticisms of the Biden administration and mutual views on immigration policy, the two seem to have re-established an alliance.

Musk’s increasing conservative rhetoric on the platform has aligned him with Trump, especially following the assassination attempt on Trump, solidifying Musk’s full endorsement of the former president.