The Trump-Musk Interview: 7 Key Takeaways You Need to Know

Trump, who claimed he had “beat Biden so badly” that the president was forced to withdraw from the race, questioned Biden’s mental abilities, calling him “close to a vegetative state” and mocked him for being unable to perform basic tasks like lifting a beach chair.

He also harshly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “incompetent” and noting that she has not given any interviews since Biden announced his candidacy. In addition, Trump also commented on Biden’s foreign policy, especially on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, claiming that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he were still president, and blamed Biden’s leadership for various geopolitical problems.

Interview Highlights

Here are seven highlights from Trump’s interview with Musk:

Trump calls Biden’s withdrawal a ‘coup’

  • Trump claimed that Joe Biden was forced out of the 2024 presidential race in a “coup” after giving “one of the best debate performances ever” against him.
  • Musk backed up Trump’s account, saying “They took him behind a shed and shot him.”

Trump recalls assassination attempt

  • “If I hadn’t turned my head, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now,” Trump said during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month, recounting his own assassination attempt.
  • He said the experience made him “believe in God even more.”

Trump criticizes Kamala Harris

  • Trump called Harris the Biden administration’s “border czar” and a “radical” Democrat who “destroyed” California.
  • Democratic representatives, however, disputed that characterization of Harris’ role.
  • In a bizarre twist, Trump praised Harris’s profile on the cover of Time magazine, comparing her to his wife, Melania.

Trump doubles down on anti-immigrant rhetoric

  • Trump expressed concern about “rough individuals” crossing the US-Mexico border, claiming they are “incarcerated for murder and all kinds of crimes.”
  • However, studies show no correlation between immigration and increased crime rates.

Trump mocks climate change

  • Trump does not consider climate change a threat, saying, “The biggest threat is not global warming, which is going to be an eighth of an inch rise in sea levels over the next 400 years.”
  • He said cynically that climate change would lead to “more beachfront properties”.

Trump praises Russia, blames US for war in Ukraine

  • Trump claimed that Russia “defeated Germany with our assistance and also defeated Napoleon” and is a “powerful military force.”
  • He suggested the United States was partly responsible for the war in Ukraine and said, “It’s very unfair … I could have prevented this.”

Musk supports Trump, suggests role in government

  • Musk supported Trump after the assassination and said he could contribute to a future Trump administration.
  • Trump told Musk: “Your support means a lot to me,” adding: “I hope you do it very much. You’re the best cutter.”

Public reaction to Donald Trump’s comments

Donald Trump’s claim that Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race was a “coup” has received mixed public reaction and has been much discussed on social media and among political commentators.

  1. Controversy sparked by social media: Americans on Twitter criticized Trump’s comments, arguing that they amounted to an attack on democracy. Some called his comments conspiracy theories, while others saw them as criticisms of Biden’s leadership and debate performance.
  1. Political analysts: Trump’s description of Biden’s withdrawal is consistent with the broader view held by some right-wing commentators that Democratic forces forced Biden to make this decision because they believe that Biden is old and physically weak and unfit for public office. This argument has become popular in some corners of the Republican Party, who see it as a slogan against the Democratic Party.
  1. Trump supporters’ reaction: Many of Trump’s supporters are backing his comments because they see them as confirming their suspicions about Biden. Yes, they say, Biden didn’t do well in the debate, as evidenced by his withdrawal from the race after “Democrats lost confidence in him.”

Without direct comment from political analysts, it was unclear whether any supported or refuted Trump’s claim that Biden’s withdrawal was a “coup.” The results provide Trump’s views but do not include analysis from other sources. The interviews touch on many of Trump’s most controversial talking points and reveal the close alliance that has formed between the former president and the billionaire tech mogul.