Former US President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a return to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, August 12, for a live interview with platform owner Elon Musk. The interview, held on X’s Spaces feature, was anticipated to be a major event, allowing Trump to connect directly with millions of potential voters. However, technical difficulties arose, leading to a delay and a reduced audience size.
During the interview, Trump launched into a series of attacks against his political opponents. He labeled Vice President Kamala Harris, the current Democratic party nominee, as “fake,” claiming she was merely mimicking his policies. He further criticized the Biden administration, accusing them of failing to address the issue of illegal immigration at the US border. Trump also took aim at President Joe Biden, calling him the “worst US president ever” and claiming his handling of the Iran-Israel crisis, Afghanistan withdrawal, and the rise in gasoline prices were failures.
Trump’s presence on X, particularly his live interview, was seen as a significant event, marking his re-entry into the social media platform after a lengthy absence. Musk, a former Democrat who endorsed Trump’s candidacy following an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally in July, has been instrumental in bringing Trump back to the platform.
The interview was meant to be a major moment for X, providing an opportunity for the platform to redeem itself after facing recent challenges. However, the technical glitches that arose during the event, identified as a possible DDoS attack, resulted in a delayed and smaller audience. Despite the issues, the interview was eventually completed, and Musk promised to release the unedited audio shortly after.
The interview comes at a time when Trump’s rival, Kamala Harris, is gaining ground in voter polls. According to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos and reported by Reuters, Harris leads Trump by 5 percentage points, with 42% of voters supporting her compared to 37% for Trump. This represents a significant shift in momentum, with Harris gaining 5 points since the last poll conducted in July.
The upcoming US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2023, making this interview a crucial moment for both candidates to engage with voters and build support. The outcome of the election, which will determine the direction of the US for the next four years, remains uncertain. The technical glitches and the shifting poll numbers highlight the complexities and unpredictability of the political landscape in the run-up to the election.
