Former President Donald Trump, during an interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un refers to President Joe Biden as a ‘stupid man.’ Trump also lauded other controversial world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, for being ‘tough’ and ‘smart.’ He criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting that foreign leaders lack respect for them.
Trump further discussed his diplomatic relationship with Kim Jong Un, claiming it prevented a potential nuclear war with North Korea. He also indicated that North Korea still sees him as a potential negotiator for their nuclear weapons program. However, in July, North Korea dismissed Trump’s comments about a friendly relationship with Kim Jong Un, stating they ‘do not care’ about his remarks and warning that their nuclear arsenal is ready for any U.S. leader.
Ri Il Kyu, the highest-ranking official to defect from North Korea since 2016, told the BBC that North Korea still views Trump as a negotiable partner regarding its nuclear weapons program. Despite the breakdown of talks between Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2019, Ri expressed North Korea’s ongoing hope for negotiations with Trump.
The interview between Trump and Musk garnered significant attention, drawing over 1.3 million listeners despite a 44-minute delay caused by an alleged Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from an alleged assassination attempt to immigration and artificial intelligence.
Musk, who once stood in line for hours to meet former President Barack Obama, has publicly shifted his political stance, now supporting Trump despite previously identifying as a moderate Democrat. During the interview, Musk expressed his support for the former president, highlighting his current political leanings.
The interview also sparked reactions from political figures. Kamala Harris’s campaign criticized Musk for using his platform to promote Trump’s agenda. The Vice President’s team sent out a fundraising email during the interview, accusing Musk of spreading Trump’s ‘unhinged and hateful agenda.’ Following the interview, Musk extended an invitation to Harris for a discussion on X.
