Trump’s Bizarre Chat with Elon Musk: Blames Assassination Attempt on ‘Poor Coordination’

In a significant return to the platform now known as X, Donald Trump recounted the details of an assassination attempt, attributing the incident to “a lack of coordination.” His conversation with X owner Elon Musk faced numerous technical difficulties, which marred the highly anticipated event.

“If I had not turned my head, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now,” Trump stated during the discussion. He emphasized the importance of proper coordination, noting, “Everybody understands that building should have been covered.”

The session aimed to connect Trump with millions of viewers, giving X a chance to regain credibility following recent controversies. However, the interview encountered a tumultuous start, with over 878,000 users waiting more than 40 minutes past the scheduled time without a signal that it had begun. Many participants received messages stating, “Details not available.”

Trump’s team attributed the chaos to overwhelming listener traffic. Musk later addressed the situation, explaining that a “massive attack” had disrupted the company’s system and caused the delay.

This event highlighted the changing dynamics of U.S. politics, especially considering Trump’s previous ban from the platform for spreading disinformation related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Under Musk’s leadership, disinformation has been prevalent on X.

The meeting also showcased the evolving relationship between Trump and Musk, who have transitioned from rivals to unexpected allies amid the political landscape. Musk previously supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary, marked by its own technical glitches during a launch on the platform.

Following Trump’s earlier mockery of DeSantis’s launch, supporters expressed their frustrations over the technical setbacks during the event. Comments poured in, with conservative commentator Glenn Beck lamenting, “Not available????? I planned my whole day around this.”

Musk anticipated the high viewer volume and mentioned in a post that X was undergoing “system scaling tests.” The global audience’s attention remained keen, drawing caution from Thierry Breton, a European Union commissioner, who warned Musk about the potential for amplifying harmful content during the live broadcast. He urged compliance with EU regulations regarding disinformation.

In response, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized the EU, stating it should focus on its own issues rather than interfere in U.S. elections, which he deemed free speech violations.

Musk, who has shifted politically in recent years, endorsed Trump shortly after the assassination attempt occurred at a rally last month. He has since increasingly leaned right in his platform use, engaging in various political discourses, including reinstating previously banned accounts like Trump’s and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

On the morning of his interview, Trump posted a video on X, featuring highlights from his presidency alongside a message addressing the legal challenges he faces. The former president emphasized his position as a barrier against perceived threats, stating, “They’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you.”

Trump has a substantially larger following on X, with about 88 million subscribers compared to 7.5 million on Truth Social, which recently became a publicly traded company. Musk leads with a staggering 193 million followers on his account, which hosted the interview.

As the political landscape evolves, the implications of this conversation between Trump and Musk remain significant, sparking discussions about the future of social media’s role in politics.