Elon Musk much-touted conversation with Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump on X faced severe technical difficulties. The event, intended to showcase Trump’s campaign, was delayed for more than 40 minutes as users struggled to access the live stream. Nevertheless, there were hitches, and Musk asked friendly questions on various issues, such as inflation and immigration.
Technical Hitches: Was it a Cyber-Attack or Overload?
At the same time, the discussion met with immediate challenges as Musk blamed the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack for his problems; cyber security professionals, including Anthony Lim from the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and International Studies, doubted this claim. He said that even if it was a DDoS attack, such an attack would likely disrupt not only a single service or feature on the platform. Additionally, some people suggested that too many users trying to access the conversation might have temporarily caused a crash in service, just like similar problems during Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign launch on X in May 2023.
Trump’s Claims Went Unchecked; Musk Agreed
During their conversation, Trump made several unfounded statements, which Elon did not challenge him about. This was not a severe interview but rather a friendly talk, during which Musk repeated his endorsement of Trump. Such support comes at a crucial moment when President Trump is experiencing renewed opposition from Kamala Harris, who is running under the Democrats’ ticket in upcoming elections.
Musk’s Political Involvement and Trump’s Back to X
As an increasingly prominent player in political conversations, especially with his backing of President Donald Trump, the importance of political endorsements cannot be overstated. Additionally, it has been over two years since Facebook banned Donald Trump following the Capitol Riots on January 6th, 2021. These reinstatements came almost one year after his removal; however, Trump’s presence on Facebook has been minimal, raising questions about whether he may use it more actively before the election.
Friendly Exchange and Prospects
Although there was previous bad blood, the conversation between Elon Musk and Trump was a polite affair involving mutual praise. While Trump is an electric car critic, particularly of Tesla brands, He softened his position by recognizing the quality of Tesla products. For some observers, this meeting questioned the seriousness of political discourse since no one challenged Trump’s statements, and technical problems disrupted the live streaming.
Conclusion: A Platform for Future Political Dialogues?
However, with the 2024 election approaching, Musk’s increasing involvement in politics, including supporting Trump, may suggest a changing nature to online campaigns. Nonetheless, if X can hold high-profile events with no back-end issues, it still has potential as an instrument of politics going forward. Whether Trump will continue using X during his campaign remains uncertain, but this display raises questions about its capabilities.
