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7 Takeaways From Donald Trump's Interview With Elon Musk

Missed Donald Trump's interview with Elon Musk? Here are some takeaways.

By Meredith Evans3 min read
Getty/Stephen Maturen

Elon Musk and Donald Trump finally connected on X (formerly Twitter), turning their two-hour conversation into a defining moment for the platform. While mainstream media may downplay it as just a "discussion," the interview showcased X's ability to amplify powerful voices and help them address pressing issues – without censorship.

Musk and Trump touched on everything from the economy to the upcoming election, as well as X's ability to facilitate unfiltered dialogue in an age full of propaganda and fake news.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Face Cyberattack

Their enlightening call – hosted on Spaces – was off to a rocky start due to what the media has described as "glitches." Musk attributed the 35-minute delay to a DDoS attack, in which hackers overwhelm a network with excessive data traffic, causing it to stall.

“The attack saturated all of our data lines. We think we’ve overcome most of that. As this massive attack illustrates, there’s a lot of opposition to people just hearing what President Trump has to say, but I’m honored to have this conversation,” Musk said.

The technical issues are reminiscent of May 2023, when glitches on X disrupted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s announcement of his presidential bid.

Trump managed to turn the technical difficulties into a positive, congratulating Musk on the number of people tuning in to what the two had to say. At times, they garnered up to 1.3 million listeners. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris’s team was paying attention, reposting a 2022 tweet in which Musk criticized Trump’s age. Petty!

Musk Inspired by Trump’s Resilience after Assassination Attempt

Just minutes into their conversation, Musk addressed Trump’s assassination attempt, calling it "inspiring" when the former President stood up, pumped his fist, and shouted, "Fight, fight, fight!" Trump added that it was a surreal moment and that the bullet struck him hard, hitting his ear.

"The bigger miracle was that I was looking in the exact direction of the shooter, and so it hit me at an angle that was far less destructive than any other angle," he explained, adding, “I’m a believer now. I’m more of a believer in God, I think."

Musk asked about the Secret Service’s failure to protect Trump during the event and remarked, "I think most people are wondering how on earth that happened." Trump mentioned that spectators had alerted the guards about the gunman on the roof, but they didn’t delve into the specifics of the security lapse, acknowledging that "there was a lack of coordination."

Trump Promises “Largest Deportation” If He’s Elected

Trump argued that illegal immigrants aren’t only coming from South America but from "everywhere." Musk added that the people coming across the border were "almost none from Mexico" and instead from the rest of the world.

The former President explained that criminals are being sent from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. "We're going to have the largest deportation in history," Trump assured. "And we have no choice."

Trump Believes Kamala Harris Is “Incompetent” and There Was a Coup

Trump expressed concerns about the country’s future if Kamala Harris becomes president, calling her "incompetent" and referring to President Joe Biden's recent resignation as a "coup." Many people have speculated that Biden has been missing since he was nowhere to be found after his Covid diagnosis in July. In a video where he was finally seen at the White House, he stood next to his wife, Jill, appearing noticeably taller. Are they using a body double? Either way, Musk agrees that there was a coup.

"They just took him out behind the shed and basically shot him," Musk said.

Trump Slams Inflation

Prices have surged 20.8% since February 2020, when Biden became president. “This stupid administration allowed this to happen,” remarked Trump.

He went on to say that millions are outraged by the Biden administration, upset by "what Kamala and Biden have allowed to happen to the economy."

"It doesn't matter what you make; the inflation is eating you alive," he added.

“I think we have the worst inflation we’ve had in 100 years. They say it’s 48 years, I don’t believe it,” he later told Musk.

Trump Reveals Past Advice Against Ukraine Invasion

Trump has long maintained a close rapport with world leaders like Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. “They’re smart, and they’re ruthless,” Trump said, recalling his frequent conversations with Putin about Ukraine. “I used to tell him, ‘Don’t do it,’ but he didn’t listen,” Trump claimed.

Known for his vocal criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine and his perceived leniency toward Putin, Trump asserted during his campaign that he could end the war within 24 hours if elected. He added that he had advised Putin against invading Ukraine, saying, "I said to Vladimir Putin, 'Don’t do it. You can’t do it, Vladimir. If you do it, it’s going to be a bad day. You cannot do it.' And I told him what I’d do. And he said, 'No way,' and I said, 'Way.'"

Trump Proposes Closing the Department of Education

Trump told Musk that one of his top priorities in a second presidential term would be to “close up the Department of Education.” He envisions shifting control of education back to the states, arguing that states like Iowa and Idaho could excel despite concerns about less effective states. For example, he criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, suggesting that under his leadership, education wouldn’t fare well.

Trump is optimistic about the potential for improvement. He believes that while some states might struggle, around 35 states could excel, with at least 15 or 20 matching the high standards of countries like Norway, a country known for its excellent education system.

While social media is fearmongering that "Project 2025" is signaling a dystopian future, Trump expressed his optimism about states' abilities to improve education independently, noting that despite current challenges, there’s a lot of potential for success across the nation.

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