From illegal immigration and a democratic 'coup' to slamming Harris, what all figured in Trump-Musk's candid chat

Both Musk and Trump have faced significant criticism for their roles in spreading misinformation and undermining democratic processes.

Elon Musk's highly anticipated interview with Donald Trump on Monday faced significant disruptions due to what Musk attributed to a cyber attack on his social media platform, X. The "no limits" conversation, which was expected to be a major event, began more than 40 minutes late. Many viewers were unable to access the livestream, causing considerable embarrassment for both Musk and Trump.

Musk announced on X that the delay was caused by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which floods a network with traffic to disrupt service. He mentioned, "There appears to be a massive DDOS attack on X. Working on shutting it down," but did not provide further details or confirm the attack's validity.

The interview aimed to boost Trump's faltering campaign, which has struggled since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Musk, who had previously supported Biden, has recently aligned himself with Trump, especially following an assassination attempt on the Republican candidate last month. Despite testing the platform with 8 million concurrent listeners, the event faced severe disruptions.

Trump, who was banned from Twitter after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, was reinstated by Musk. He used his X account to post multiple campaign ads and links to his website. The interview on X was designed to reach a broader audience beyond Trump’s usual conservative base, but the technical problems undermined this effort.

During the interview, Trump discussed various topics, including his recent assassination attempt, which he described as "not pleasant" but a reminder of faith for some. He also criticised Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging that she has allowed a significant influx of undocumented immigrants, and labeled Biden’s departure from the race as a "coup" orchestrated by Democrats.

Trump lashed out at the Biden administration for allowing an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants to enter the country, asserting, "They are coming in from everywhere."

Musk, reflecting on Trump's assassination attempt during a recent rally, remarked, "You can't fake bravery under such circumstances -- the courage is instinctual or it is not." Trump recounted his experience, stating, "I wanted to get up and let them know I was ok -- and they went wild," highlighting the intensity of the situation.

Trump also took the opportunity to attack President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing miserably in their previous debate. He described Biden’s decision to exit the presidential race as a "coup" orchestrated by Democrats. This departure followed a debate where Biden's age and mental acuity were notably scrutinised.

Trump harshly criticised President Biden's handling of the US economy. Trump described the economic situation as a "disaster," citing high inflation and financial strain on Americans. He contrasted the current state of the economy with the situation four years ago, noting that while people were able to save money back then, many are now depleting their savings and resorting to borrowing just to make ends meet.

The former US President also expressed strong concerns about a potential Kamala Harris presidency, stating, "If Kamala wins, this country will go out of business".

He also praised the leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea, calling Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un "at the top of their game". He noted that, despite their controversial methods, these leaders have a form of "love" for their countries, though it is "a different form of love."

Musk’s support for Trump and his controversial positions on various issues, including spreading misinformation about immigration and voter fraud, have made headlines. Musk has faced criticism for turning X into a platform for right-wing conspiracy theories and his contentious interactions with European regulators regarding content moderation.

The European Union has reminded Musk of his legal responsibilities to prevent the spread of harmful content on X, an obligation he has mocked publicly. Musk's response included derogatory memes, reflecting his contentious relationship with the EU's digital regulations.

Trump’s recent return to X and his posts aimed to reach a different audience than his typical conservative followers. The interview was also a chance for Trump to regain visibility amid challenges from Kamala Harris, who has gained momentum in recent polls.

Musk's backing of Trump and his controversial actions, including endorsing antisemitic posts and spreading false claims about voter fraud, continue to draw scrutiny. Both Musk and Trump have faced significant criticism for their roles in spreading misinformation and undermining democratic processes.