Donald Trump chats with Elon Musk: What happened?

In a highly anticipated interview with Elon Musk on the social media platform X, former President Donald Trump made bold and controversial claims that have quickly become a focal point in the 2024 U.S. presidential race.

The interview, which covered a wide range of topics including foreign policy, national security, and domestic governance, provides a glimpse into Trump’s campaign strategy as he seeks to return to the White House.

First, why did Musk hold interview with Trump?

• Political influence: By hosting Trump, Musk is not just conducting an interview; he is making a statement about the role of tech leaders in shaping political discourse. The interview was framed as a critical conversation about the future of America, with Musk presenting Trump as a potential path to prosperity, in contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he portrayed negatively.

America is at a fork in the road, and you are the path to prosperity, and I think Kamala is the opposite

Elon Musk

• Strategic alignment: Initially, Musk and Trump had a contentious relationship, particularly over environmental policies and electric vehicles. Trump was critical of electric vehicles, while Musk was a staunch advocate. However, the relationship began to evolve as Musk’s influence in politics grew, especially after he acquired Twitter (now X), which gave him a powerful platform to sway political narratives.

Zoom in: “I had no choice but to support EVs because of Elon,” Trump said, adding that Tesla produces “great” cars.

Biden’s exit was’coup’, covering poor debate performance

• Biden’s exit: Trump boldly claimed during the interview that President Joe Biden was forced to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following a poor debate performance.

I beat Biden so bad in the debate, he was forced out of the race—one of the greatest debate performances ever. Biden’s exit, it was a coup

Donald Trump

• Alleged force: Trump elaborated on his claim, stating, “This was a coup of a president of the United States. He didn’t want to leave, and they said, ‘We can do it the nice way, or we can do it the hard way.’”

What happened: Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race, announced last month, came after mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party following a poor debate performance against Trump in June. Biden subsequently endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee, setting the stage for a contentious election battle.

Kamala Harris ‘as bad as Biden’

• Harris as nominee: Following Biden’s withdrawal, Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. Trump, however, expressed deep concern about her leadership, labeling her “incompetent.”

We cannot have her. She’s incompetent. She’s as bad as Biden

Donald Trump

• Harris’ capabilities: Trump expressed doubt about Harris’ ability to lead, claiming she had avoided major media interviews since entering the race. He also accused her of falsely taking credit for his accomplishments, labeling her as “fake.”

What’s more: Trump didn’t stop at Biden and Harris; he also targeted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, over a state law providing menstrual products in public schools. Trump falsely claimed that the law mandates tampons in boys’ bathrooms, branding Walz as “Tampon Tim.”

• Trump extended his criticism to other political figures, accusing Hillary Clinton and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of endangering the country with what he called the “Russia hoax,” referring to allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

They actually put our country in danger with that stuff… when they made up stories and you had to fight your way out of it for a long time

Donald Trump

Biden’s poor performance in US foreign policy

Trump did not stop at the debate and domestic politics, further accusing Biden of mishandling international affairs.

• Biden’s mistakes: He linked Biden’s presidency to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the ongoing inflation crisis.

First of all, the Israeli attack would have never happened. Russia would never have attacked Ukraine, and we would have no inflation, and we wouldn’t have had the Afghanistan mess

Donald Trump

• Trump-Putin relationship: Trump highlighted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “I got along with Putin very well, and he respected me. We would talk a lot about Ukraine. It was the apple of his eye. But I told him, don’t do it.”

• Mishandling of Iran: Trump also criticized Biden’s handling of Iran, claiming, “Iran would not be attacking, believe me. You know, when I was there, Iran was broke because I told China, if you buy oil from Iran, you’re not going to do any business with the United States.”

The big picture: As the 2024 election approaches, Trump’s rhetoric is increasingly focused on portraying Biden and Harris as ineffective leaders while positioning himself as the candidate who can restore America’s strength. His bold claims and ambitious proposals will likely play a central role in his campaign as he seeks to recapture the presidency.

Trump’s vision for future US

Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education, move its responsibilities to the states, and establish a U.S. Iron Dome reflects his broader strategy to return power to states and bolster national security.

• Iron Dome for the U.S.: Trump also advocated for the U.S. to adopt a defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, suggesting it would enhance national security.

Why shouldn’t we have an Iron Dome? Israel has one

Donald Trump

• Immigration: Trump described illegal migrants as “radicals” and “terrorists in disguise,” promising swift action to remove them if elected. He estimated that “50-60 million” people have crossed the U.S. borders from regions like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East under the current administration.
• Education department: Trump proposed eliminating the Department of Education, arguing that education should be managed at the state level. He believes this would cut education costs in half and help U.S. students catch up to their global peers.