On Monday, August 12th, former President Donald Trump made a high-profile return to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, for an interview with its owner, Elon Musk. The conversation, intended to showcase Trump’s plans for a potential second term, was marred by technical difficulties, frustrating many of the nearly 900,000 users who attempted to tune in.
The discussion, which lasted over two hours, primarily focused on Trump’s recent assassination attempt, immigration policies, and government regulation. Trump detailed how he narrowly survived the attack, crediting his quick reflexes for saving his life. Musk, who had previously criticized Trump, praised the former president’s toughness, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership in maintaining national security.
The event, which was also an opportunity for X to demonstrate its ability to handle large-scale live events, began with significant delays. Users were met with error messages, and the audio quality was poor throughout the conversation. Musk attributed the issues to a “massive attack” on the platform, apologizing for the late start.
Trump’s supporters expressed their frustration on social media, with many high-profile figures, including conservative commentator Glenn Beck and billionaire Bill Ackman, voicing their disappointment at the technical failures. The session was reminiscent of a similarly troubled event in May 2023, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faced technical issues during his presidential campaign announcement on the platform.
Despite the rocky start, the interview highlighted the evolving relationship between Trump and Musk. The two, once bitter rivals, now appear as unlikely allies, with Musk endorsing Trump after his assassination attempt and even discussing the possibility of joining a future Trump administration.
The interview also underscored the ongoing challenges X faces under Musk’s ownership. The platform, which has been criticized for allowing the spread of disinformation, has seen a shift towards more politically charged content. This change, coupled with the technical glitches during high-profile events, has drawn scrutiny from both users and international regulators, including the European Union, which has warned Musk about the amplification of harmful content.
