Elon Musk’s Interview with Donald Trump Marred by Cyber Attack
In a highly anticipated interview between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, technical issues overshadowed the conversation. The interview, which was aimed at “open-minded independent voters,” began more than 40 minutes late as users struggled to gain access.
Mr. Musk, who owns X (formerly Twitter), attributed the delay to a distributed denial of services (DDoS) attack that “saturated all of our data lines.” Despite the technical difficulties, the conversation eventually started, with Mr. Musk reaffirming his endorsement of Trump and calling on moderate voters to support the Republican’s campaign.
The alleged cyber attack raised questions about opposition to hearing what Trump had to say, according to Mr. Musk. However, the exact cause of the technical problems and the identity of the attackers remain unclear.
The glitchy start to the conversation on X drew comparisons to a previous livestream malfunction during Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ entry into the White House race. The interview comes at a crucial time for Trump as he seeks to reset his re-election campaign amid a tightening race against Democratic nominee Vice-President Kamala Harris.
During the conversation, Trump praised Tesla, which Mr. Musk owns, and expressed willingness to collaborate with a Trump administration on a proposed “government efficiency commission.” The relationship between the two men, who have had public disagreements in the past, appeared friendly and cooperative during the interview.
The conversation on X also sparked controversy regarding compliance with EU digital content laws, with EU industry chief Thierry Breton urging Mr. Musk to adhere to regulations. X chief executive Linda Yaccarino criticized the EU’s attempts to regulate political activities in the US, calling it patronizing to European citizens.
Overall, the interview touched on various issues, from national security to education policy, providing insights into Trump’s campaign platform. The Harris campaign, in response to the event, criticized Mr. Musk and Trump as “self-obsessed rich guys” who cannot run a livestream effectively in 2024.
As the US election season heats up, the interview between Elon Musk and Donald Trump offers a glimpse into the dynamics of the political landscape and the role of technology in shaping public discourse.
