In a recent interview with tech tycoon Elon Musk on X Spaces, former President Donald Trump made some unusual remarks, including a peculiar comparison between Vice President Kamala Harris and his wife, Melania Trump. The interview, which was delayed by 40 minutes due to technical glitches, was expected to be a game-changer but ended up being a disjointed, two-hour event.
The conversation kicked off with Musk asking Trump about his views on the current political scenario. As expected, Trump didn’t hold back. He launched into a biting critique of Harris, labeling her a “terrible” leader and questioning her capacity to handle global issues. “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 carrying a noticeable lisp.
Musk, who maintained a generally agreeable demeanor throughout the interview, responded with a light-hearted, “It would be silly.” Trump, unbothered, continued his critique, doubling down on his criticism of Harris. “She is terrible, she is terrible,” he reiterated. “She’s getting a free ride.”
In a surprising turn of events, Trump shifted the conversation to praise 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 the Time Magazine cover that featured Harris, with a headline lauding her campaign as “the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.”
Trump continued without hesitation, “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” His sudden appreciation for Harris’ looks seemed to surprise even Musk, eliciting a quick, awkward laugh from the tech entrepreneur. “Yeah…” Musk responded, seemingly unsure of how to steer the conversation. Trump then added, “She didn’t look like Camilla,” deliberately mispronouncing Harris’ name before wrapping up, “Of course, she’s a beautiful woman and we’ll leave it at that.”
Perhaps keen to return the discussion to a more traditional trajectory, Musk started a monologue about the American dream and the significance of free speech. Musk has identified himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has vowed to use his platform, X, to challenge what he terms the “woke mind virus.” However, the interview largely sidestepped policy or substantive issues, with Trump deflecting serious inquiries, instead opting for familiar catchphrases and assaults on his political rivals.
Throughout the discussion, Trump offered little in terms of policy conversation, instead sticking to his usual rhetoric, which, according to a fact-check piece published by CNN, included over 20 incorrect claims. Among these were his assertions that Venezuela is dispatching criminals to the United States and that the ocean will rise only an eighth of an inch every 400 years—both claims easily debunked by experts.
Trump also seized the chance to once again convey his admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stating that Kim “really likes me” after they shared a meal. He characterized Kim as the “absolute boss” of North Korea, a statement that drew no challenge from Musk.
Throughout the interview, Trump frequently complimented Musk, praising him as the “greatest cutter” for his willingness to terminate employees who complained about working conditions. Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, engaged with these comments but remained mostly neutral, providing little in the way of critique or challenge to Trump’s statements.
As the interview concluded, Musk extended an invitation to Harris, offering her the chance to appear on X Spaces for a similar discussion.
Following the interview, Harris’ campaign team issued a harsh statement, branding 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 deep divisions that define the current political landscape.
While the interview may not have lived up to its hype as a pivotal conversation, it certainly added another episode to the ongoing saga of Trump’s unpredictable public appearances. As the 2024 election nears, instances like these will likely continue to shape the narrative and provide material for both supporters and critics to dissect.
