Iconic billionaire Elon Musk is gearing up to sit down with former President Donald Trump for an unscripted interview on an unspecified platform. Musk, known for his roles at Tesla and SpaceX, has been making waves in US politics, with some accusing him of using his social media presence to amplify right-wing conspiracy theories.
In a teaser for the interview, Musk, who boasts a staggering net worth of $235 billion, expressed excitement about the no-holds-barred conversation, hinting that it promises to be extremely entertaining.
On the other hand, Trump, aged 78, made a return to the platform before the interview, sharing a campaign video where he portrayed himself as a victim of persecution by entities aiming to dismantle the United States.
Musk, a vocal critic of current President Joe Biden, has leveraged his massive following on the platform to criticize policies related to diversity, inclusion, the “woke mind virus,” and the management of the southern border by Democrats.
Expected to be cordial, the impending dialogue between Musk and the Republican figurehead marks a significant shift from their previously tumultuous relationship, influenced by Musk’s ascent to a heroic figure among young men aligned with Trump’s ideologies.
Trump’s aim seems to be to appeal to this audience, distinct from traditional rally attendees or viewers of conservative news networks, in a strategic move to counter Kamala Harris’s surge in popularity following her assumption of the Democratic candidacy from Biden.
Last month, Musk publicly endorsed Trump shortly after a close-call assassination attempt on the former president at a rally. Despite their occasional disagreements, Musk had been a longtime Democratic voter before switching sides in opposition to Biden’s stance on unions and his exclusion of the Tesla CEO from a significant electric vehicle summit in 2021.
With shared concerns over ongoing federal investigations involving Musk’s company and Trump facing legal repercussions over his post-2020 election conduct, the two moguls found common ground, especially highlighted when Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and reinstated Trump’s account while simultaneously supporting Trump’s Republican rival, Ron DeSantis.
– Misleading claims –
Adding to the complexity of their relationship, Musk has faced criticism for spreading misinformation on various topics, such as falsely predicting a civil war in the UK and sharing misleading posts about detainment camps. Reports suggest that Musk’s misleading statements concerning US election matters have collectively garnered approximately 1.2 billion views on the platform.
While Musk had initially pledged significant donations to Trump’s campaign, he later scaled back this commitment but took a step further by co-founding a pro-Trump political action committee called America PAC.
Despite Musk stepping down from two White House business councils in 2017 due to policy disagreements with Trump, the duo’s bond seems to have strengthened, with reports indicating regular phone conversations between the two. Speculations suggest that Trump might be considering a new advisory role for Musk in his circle.
Reflecting on their evolving rapport, Trump acknowledged his mutual respect with Musk and emphasized their shared concerns about the nation’s future, echoing sentiments about the country’s precarious state and the urgent need for positive change.
Source: AFP