Trump Reiterates Same Talking Points in Interview with Musk

On Monday night, a live discussion between former President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk sparked immediate interest and questions among listeners. Many noticed that Trump appeared to speak with a pronounced lisp, leading to a flurry of comments on social media.

The highly anticipated one-on-one conversation was marked by significant technical difficulties, delaying it by around 40 minutes. Musk had positioned this chat as an opportunity for the public to understand Trump better in a conversational format. However, listeners were quickly distracted by Trump’s altered speech.

Comments from social media users included, “Did Trump pause campaign rallies because of this massive lisp he has on this Twitter interview with Elon?” and “Is it just me? What is wrong with Trump’s voice? Sound like he has a lisp?” Another user humorously remarked, “Trump got hit by the CIA lisp gun.” The Trump campaign responded with a dismissive note stating, “Must be your s****y hearing. Get your ears checked,” when questioned by a reporter.

During the conversation, Trump largely reiterated familiar grievances and complaints that he has publicly voiced numerous times over the years. He called President Joe Biden “stupid” and described Vice President Kamala Harris as “incompetent.” In contrast, he praised authoritarian leaders like Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin, labeling them as “tough,” “smart,” and “vicious.” Trump also took aim at immigration policies, alleging that other countries were sending their prison and mental health populations to the United States, denouncing Biden as “the worst” president ever.

Musk nodded along as Trump bemoaned rising food prices, particularly the cost of bacon, which Trump referred to as “sticker shock.” He claimed that the economy was thriving before the onset of COVID-19 and expressed frustration about not receiving proper credit for those economic conditions.

At one point, Trump recounted an incident from a Pennsylvania rally where he claimed to have been shot at, stating that a bullet grazed his right ear but caused no lasting injuries. He described the moment as surreal, noting, “It was a hard hit. I knew immediately that it was a bullet.”

Trump also accused Harris of plagiarizing his policies, particularly regarding tax on tips, asserting that he had proposed that long before she did. Musk agreed with Trump’s assessment of the mainstream media, describing it as “unfair” to the former president.

The broadcast unfolded as Harris, Trump’s competitor in the upcoming election, gained ground in national polls alongside running mate Tim Walz. This conversation marked Trump’s return to X, the platform from which he had been banned for two years following the January 6 Capitol riots over concerns of inciting violence.

After Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, he reinstated Trump’s account, allowing his return to the platform. Just before the event, Trump made several posts on X, rallying excitement for the Musk interview while lambasting Harris and claiming the U.S. was a “nation in decline” without him.

Musk attributed earlier issues with the server to governor Ron DeSantis’s joining the platform. To prepare for Trump’s interview, Musk had promised to conduct system scaling tests beforehand. He framed the interview as “unscripted” with limitless subject matter, urging users to propose questions for him to pose to Trump.

Despite Musk’s efforts to ensure a smooth broadcast, it started significantly behind schedule, which likely disappointed many viewers. European leaders raised alarms regarding the conversation, concerned about the potential spread of misinformation from two influential figures known for their untruthfulness. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the need for accountability, stating on X, “With great audience comes greater responsibility.”

In response to these concerns, Musk shared a meme from the film Tropic Thunder that dismissed criticism. Musk has faced accusations of amplifying violence stemming from misinformation shared on X, notably related to recent race riots in Southport, England.

Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, issued a firm response against the EU’s involvement, arguing that it should not interfere in U.S. elections. He emphasized that a Trump presidency would prioritize American interests and denounced the EU’s stance as a threat to free speech.