Fatshimetrie — The two most powerful men in the world agreed on almost everything in a highly publicized public discussion.
Tech mogul Elon Musk opened his X Platform Monday night, giving Donald Trump a fact-check-free space to spread his lies, conspiracy theories and extremism in his bid to slow the rise of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
The exchange represented an extraordinary chapter in a presidential campaign that has defied logic with surprising twists and turns in recent weeks, including an assassination attempt on Trump and President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid.
The former president has struggled to navigate the meteoric rise of the new Democratic nominee. During their wide-ranging conversation, Musk appeared to use the power of his profile and platform to advise Trump on how to best argue against Harris.
“She’s a left-wing extremist,” Trump said at one point of his Democratic opponent who has narrowed his lead in the polls in just three weeks of campaigning. And the former president, who has been trying to overturn an election he lost, has baselessly claimed that Biden was illegally ousted to make way for Harris. “She hasn’t given an interview since this whole scam started, and no matter what you think about it, this is a coup. This is a coup against a president of the United States,” Trump fumed.
Musk agreed with Trump that Harris was a left-wing extremist and flattered his guest by implying that he was strong and his Democratic opponents were weak. He referred to America’s enemies, saying, “Do they fear the American president, or is it someone they don’t respect and they’re not afraid of? Let’s look at the footage of the assassination. For example, you know, President Trump, he’s serious, don’t mess with me.”
Musk has previously endorsed Trump and left no doubt Monday night that he wants him to win a second term. “You’re the path to prosperity. And I think Kamala is the opposite,” he told Trump.
During the event, Trump, who has spent months criticizing Biden for his age, stutter and sometimes difficulty finishing sentences, appeared to mumble or stutter over his words. It was unclear whether an audio problem was to blame. Asked about it, the former president’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said, “It’s probably your hearing.”
The friendly conversation between the tycoon and the former president also showed what each man had to gain.
Musk managed to convey to a potential future president, known for his transactional leadership, his own views on immigration, the economy, reducing government regulation and tax cuts. Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, a key player in the US space program, and Tesla, which makes electric vehicles, could be affected by changes in government policy. The entire conversation was rife with potential conflicts of interest. No ordinary American would ever have a similar opportunity to be heard by a potential future president.
At one point, Musk even offered to take a position in the US government, perhaps as part of an efficiency commission to shrink the administration. Trump said he would love to have Musk involved, noting that the multi-billionaire is a great “reducer.”
Trump also got a lot out of investing more than two hours of his time. Musk didn’t challenge him on his lies and distortions of reality, such as his prediction that 60 million undocumented immigrants would flood the United States if he lost in November.
During the exchange, Musk downplayed the threat of global warming while defending his pioneering electric vehicle empire. Trump, meanwhile, warned of the threat of “nuclear warming,” which he claimed was more dangerous than “global warming.” It was unclear whether he was trying to talk about nuclear power — which Musk claimed was “less scary than people think.”
The encounter was a powerful example of how presidential politics has been transformed by social media and the fragmentation of traditional journalism. Trump might not have been president without Twitter, as his emergence as a political force in 2016 coincided with the site’s heyday. His skill at harnessing this new medium propelled him to the heart of that year’s presidential election, creating a unique combination of the man and his moment.
Eight years later, under Musk, who advocates unfettered free speech, X has removed many of the safeguards against the spread of lies and conspiracy theories on the platform. It’s an ideal place for the former president to break free from the constraints of traditional media and weave his web of an alternate reality.