We’re about to witness a clash of egos when Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), faces Donald Trump, the former Republican president who refuses to fade into political obscurity.
Trump blurted this out in his own echo chamber, Truth Social, announcing that he would be talking to Elon about everything tomorrow night.
Whether it’s his endless 2024 presidential campaign, his relationship with Elon, or their mutual disdain for the mainstream media and, of course, the “radical left,” you can bet they’ll cover it.
They’re both kings of their own little worlds—Trump in his MAGA universe, Elon in his nerdy utopia—so don’t expect them to be reserved in their judgments.
Time: Expecting chaos?
Despite all the hype, we don’t really know when the circus will begin. Trump says it will happen Monday night, but as usual, details are scant. Will it be live? Pre-recorded? Will it be released at midnight, like an album?
Elon isn’t saying much, which means we’re left in limbo, wondering if we’ll be upgrading X all night like we’re waiting for a sale.
Now, if you’re expecting a polished, sit-down conversation, you might want to adjust your expectations. Trump is no stranger to saying whatever comes into his head, and Elon is no model of restraint, either.
This interview could go either way, and that’s about the only guarantee we have.
What they’re likely to cover: Everything and nothing.
Let’s talk about themes. Trump is running for president again, because of course he is, and he will be pushing hard to succeed in his 2024 campaign.
He has a lot to say about how the country is run, and you can bet he’ll use this platform to cast aspersions on everyone from Joe Biden to his Republican rivals.
Trump likes to play the role of both victim and hero, so expect more of the “Only I can fix it” rhetoric.
Elon, on the other hand, is playing a different game. He has been sucking up to Trump ever since he decided it would be profitable to restore his Twitter account, which Jack Dorsey had suspended.
It’s no secret that Elon supported Trump after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt. But why? What does Elon gain from this?
He’ll probably spill the beans a little bit in interviews, though knowing Elon, it’ll be wrapped in a bunch of cryptic and off-the-cuff remarks that will keep us guessing.
The economy? Yes, they will touch on that. Trump will undoubtedly brag about his past accomplishments and criticize the current administration for everything that is wrong today.
Inflation, jobs, trade — whatever you call it, he’ll find a way to make it sound like a disaster only he can prevent. Watch Trump Thinks Biden Administration’s Hated Bitcoin Can Beat Inflation
And speaking of cryptocurrency, don’t be surprised if that comes up too. But maybe not too deeply. Elon recently told us he’s not too keen on endorsing any cryptocurrency unless it’s a joke. But never anything serious.
Trump has previously been critical of cryptocurrency, but it’s now fairly well known that he has warmed up to it in recent years. The former president has accepted cryptocurrency as campaign donations and attended the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville.
He has also received support from several leading industry players, from the Winklevoss twins to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
Foreign policy may get a thumbs up, but let’s be realistic: Trump is going to go back to his usual stuff.
The war in Ukraine, China, NATO – he will make it clear that under his leadership everything would have been different (and better, in his words).
Elon, who considers himself a global thinker, might have some thoughts on space exploration or artificial intelligence, but don’t expect too much deep thinking.
Tomorrow’s conversation won’t change the world, but it could certainly shake up the 2024 election. Trump has his eye on the prize, and Elon’s support is important to him.
It’s a signal to conservative voters that the tech world isn’t completely against them, and it positions Elon as something of an influencer.
But don’t think this is just a Trump thing. Elon has his own political aspirations, whether he admits it or not.
He has been testing his waters in these areas for some time, and supporting Trump could be a way for him to secure a seat at the political table.
The interview could be a chance for him to cement his role as a major player in the Republican Party, or at least as someone who can influence its direction.
