Ex-President Donald Trump’s recent interview with Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, took an unusual turn when he oddly likened Vice President Kamala Harris’ looks to those of his wife, Melania Trump, the former First Lady.
The live discussion on X Spaces on August 12, intended to be a transformative interview, instead devolved into a disordered, uncomfortable event spanning two hours.
Starting 40 minutes late due to technological glitches, Musk initiated the conversation by asking Trump his opinion on the current political scene. Trump, in his characteristic style, didn’t mince words. He launched into a harsh criticism of Harris, denouncing her as a “terrible” leader and questioning her capacity to manage international matters. “We need smart people, and people that have the ability to lead. She doesn’t have that ability. Can you imagine her with Chairman Xi [Jinping]?” Trump said, his voice bearing a notable lisp.
Musk maintained an agreeable stance throughout the interview, responding lightly to Trump’s criticism of Harris, with a simple “It would be silly.” Unaffected, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Harris, repeatedly asserting, “She is terrible, she is terrible. She’s getting a free ride.”
Unexpectedly, Trump started to extol Harris’ appearance, drawing a strange comparison between her and Melania. “I saw a picture of her on Time Magazine today. She looks like the most beautiful actress ever to live,” Trump remarked. He was referring to a Time Magazine cover featuring Harris, with a headline proclaiming her campaign as “the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.”
Trump proceeded without hesitation, “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” His sudden praise for Harris’ appearance seemed to surprise even Musk, eliciting a moment of awkward laughter from the tech magnate. “Yeah…” Musk replied, seemingly uncertain of how to proceed with the dialogue. Trump then added, “She didn’t look like Camilla,” deliberately mispronouncing Harris’ name, before concluding, “Of course, she’s a beautiful woman and we’ll leave it at that.”
Perhaps in an attempt to get the discussion back on track, Musk veered the conversation towards the American dream and the significance of free speech. Musk, who brands himself a “free speech absolutist,” pledged to utilize his platform, X, to combat what he terms the “woke mind virus.” However, the interview barely touched on policy or substantive issues, as Trump consistently dodged serious queries, preferring to repeat familiar talking points and attacks on his political opponents.
Throughout the interview, Trump offered little in terms of policy discourse, instead resorting to his standard rhetoric which, as per a fact-check article by CNN, entailed over 20 false claims. Among these were his assertions that Venezuela is dispatching criminals to the United States and that the ocean will rise just an eighth of an inch every 400 years—both declarations quickly refuted by experts.
Trump also took the chance to reiterate his admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declaring that Kim “really likes me” after they shared a meal. He labeled Kim as the “absolute boss” of North Korea, a comment that Musk did not challenge.
Moments of praise for Musk peppered the interview, with Trump hailing him as the “greatest cutter” for his readiness to dismiss employees who voiced complaints about workplace conditions. Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, engaged with these remarks but largely remained neutral, offering scant critique or challenge to Trump’s statements.
As the interview concluded, Musk extended an invitation to Harris to appear on X Spaces for a similar discussion.
Reacting to the interview, Harris’ campaign team issued a harsh statement, describing both Trump and Musk as “self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.” This biting response underscores the tension and deep divisions that define the current political environment.
Though the interview may not have fulfilled its promise as a transformative conversation, it certainly added another layer to the ongoing narrative of Trump’s unpredictable and often contentious public appearances. As the 2024 election nears, such moments will likely continue to shape the narrative and provide material for both backers and critics.
