Trump to be interviewed by supporter Elon Musk on X

Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed by Elon Musk on the social media platform X on the evening of August 12, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN and Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed by Elon Musk on the social media platform X on the evening of August 12, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN and Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Published Aug 12, 2024

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Donald Trump will be interviewed Monday live on X by its billionaire owner Elon Musk -- an influential supporter -- as the Republican ex-president works to reignite online enthusiasm for his sagging White House campaign.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has emerged as a major voice in US politics but is accused of turning the platform formerly known as Twitter into a megaphone for right-wing conspiracy theories.

"This is unscripted with no limits on subject matter, so should be highly entertaining!" 53-year-old Musk, who has an estimated net worth of $235 billion, posted in a preview of the interview on Sunday.

Trump is struggling to pivot in the face of surging enthusiasm and strong polls for Kamala Harris, since she took over from President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate.

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 12, 2024

Musk is one of the Democrats' fiercest critics, leveraging his 194 million-strong following on X to assail liberal efforts to boost diversity and inclusion -- what he calls the "woke mind virus" -- and the White House's handling of the southern border.

He frequently spreads far-right misinformation about undocumented immigrants and voter fraud.

The conversation is expected to be convivial as the previously rocky relationship between the tech tycoon and the Republican nominee has been transformed, tracking Musk's rise to hero status among young men aligned with Trump's views.

It is this audience, which doesn't watch rallies or tune in to conservative cable news, that Trump hopes to woo.

Trump, 78, began posting on X for the first time in more than a year on Monday and last week took part in an interview with internet influencer Adin Ross -- who has been repeatedly banned from streaming site Twitch for policy violations.

Musk endorsed Trump last month just minutes after the Republican narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally. But they have not always seen eye to eye.