Elon Musk is set to interview former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. IST on Tuesday). This interview could provide a significant platform for Trump amid a challenging phase in his campaign.
In recent weeks, Trump's
Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, has gained momentum
in opinion polls, overtaking Trump and energizing Democratic voters with
dynamic rallies. This interview offers Trump a chance to engage with a broader
audience beyond his usual conservative base that typically tunes in to his
rallies and appearances on Fox News. However, it's worth noting that similar
events on the platform have previously faced technical difficulties.
Elon Musk announced on X that he plans to conduct
system scaling tests to ensure a smooth broadcast of the interview. The event
will be hosted live on Trump's official X account, which was reinstated
shortly after Musk acquired the platform. Trump's access to his account was
suspended following the January 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol
but was restored under Musk's ownership. Trump has primarily used his Truth
Social platform, launched in February 2022, for his social media
presence and returned to X only once since his account was restored,
posting an appeal for donations alongside his Fulton County jail mug shot
in August 2023.
Musk's role as an
interviewer is noteworthy given his evolving political stance. Initially a
supporter of Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Musk
has since shifted towards the right and endorsed Trump following an assassination
attempt on the former president in July. Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla
Inc. and SpaceX, also founded a political action committee to support
Trump's campaign, which is currently under investigation in Michigan for
potential legal violations regarding voter information collection.
Interestingly, Trump, known
for his criticism of electric vehicles, altered his stance after receiving
Musk's endorsement, stating, "I'm for electric cars. I have to be
because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice," at a
rally in early August.
United Auto
Workers President Shawn Fein, advocating for Harris, criticized Trump, calling
him a "sellout." This interview with Musk may present an opportunity
for Trump to clarify his positions and reach a diverse audience in the lead-up
to the November 5 election.
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