In a recent interview with the world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, former President Donald Trump made a strange comparison between Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Melania Trump. This conversation, intended to be a revolutionary interview on X Spaces, ended up as a disorganized and uncomfortable two-hour event.
The interview started 40 minutes late due to technical difficulties. The first topic Musk brought up was Trump’s views on the current political scenario. True to form, Trump didn’t hold back, instead launching into a fierce criticism of Harris. He called her a “terrible” leader and questioned her ability to handle worldwide issues. “We need intelligent people, and people who have leadership capabilities. She lacks those capabilities. Can you imagine her with Chairman Xi [Jinping]?” Trump said, his voice carrying a noticeable lisp.
Musk maintained a generally agreeable attitude during the interview. Responding to Trump’s comment about Harris and Chairman Xi, Musk lightly said, “It would be silly.” Unfazed by the response, Trump continued his criticism of Harris, repeating that she is “terrible” and getting a “free ride.”
In a sudden and strange turn, Trump started complimenting Harris’ appearance, comparing her to Melania. “I saw her picture in Time Magazine today. She looks like the most beautiful actress ever,” Trump noted. The Time Magazine cover he referred to features Harris, with the headline praising her campaign as “the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.”
Trump went on to say, “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” This unexpected compliment about Harris’ appearance seemed to surprise even Musk, leading to an uneasy laugh from the tech giant. “Yeah…” Musk replied, seemingly uncertain about how to handle the conversation. Trump added, “She didn’t look like Camilla,” deliberately mispronouncing Harris’ name, and concluded, “Of course, she’s a beautiful woman and we’ll leave it at that.”
Eager to refocus the conversation, Musk tried to steer the discussion toward the American dream and free speech. Musk, who identifies as a “free speech absolutist,” has promised to use his platform, X, to fight against what he terms the “woke mind virus.” However, the interview barely touched on policy or substantial issues, as Trump frequently sidestepped serious queries, preferring to resort to familiar soundbites and attacks on his political opponents.
Throughout the interview, Trump provided little substantive policy discussion, instead focusing on his standard rhetoric. According to a fact-check article by CNN, this included more than 20 false assertions. These included his claims that Venezuela is sending criminals to the United States and that the sea level will rise by only an eighth of an inch every 400 years—both of which have been easily disproven by experts.
Trump also reiterated his admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stating that Kim “really likes me” after they had dinner together. He referred to Kim as the “absolute boss” of North Korea, a comment that Musk did not challenge.
Throughout the interview, Trump complimented Musk, calling him the “greatest cutter” for his readiness to dismiss employees who complained about work conditions. Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential run, engaged with these comments but mainly remained neutral, offering little in the form of critique or challenge to Trump’s remarks.
As the interview concluded, Musk invited Harris to appear on X Spaces for a similar conversation.
In reaction to the interview, Harris’ campaign team released 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 sharp response underscores the tension and significant divides in the current political environment.
While the interview may not have been the groundbreaking conversation it was intended to be, it certainly added another layer to the continuing story of Trump’s unpredictable and often contentious public appearances. As the 2024 election nears, such moments will likely continue to influence the narrative and provide material for both supporters and critics.