Elon Musk Cites Cyberattack for Technical Issues During Trump’s Conversation on X

During a highly anticipated return to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Donald Trump detailed an assassination attempt against him, attributing the incident to “a lack of coordination.” However, the conversation itself was overshadowed by significant technical glitches, which Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, blamed on a “massive cyberattack.”

“If I hadn’t turned my head, I wouldn’t be speaking with you now — despite how much I enjoy our talks,” Trump shared with Musk, pointing out the lapses in security that nearly cost him his life. “The building should have been fully secured.”

This discussion was intended to serve as a direct channel for Trump to engage millions of voters, while also providing X with a chance to showcase its importance in the political arena after facing recent challenges. However, things did not go according to plan.

Over 40 minutes after the scheduled start time, the interview had yet to commence, despite more than 878,000 users waiting. Many received error messages stating, “Details not available.” Trump's team attributed the delay to an overwhelming number of listeners logging in simultaneously. When the session finally began, Musk issued an apology, attributing the delays to a large-scale cyberattack that temporarily crippled the platform.

Despite the technical issues, the conversation marked a significant moment in U.S. politics, highlighting the evolving relationship between Trump and Musk. Just four years ago, Trump was permanently banned from Twitter for spreading misinformation that incited the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Under Musk’s ownership, the platform has seen the resurgence of similar content.

The event also underscored the shifting dynamics between Trump and Musk, once adversaries who have now found common ground. Musk, who previously supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary, facilitated DeSantis' presidential bid announcement on X earlier this year. That event was also marred by technical difficulties, as more than 400,000 users attempted to join simultaneously.

Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, seized the moment to recall Trump’s earlier mockery of DeSantis’ failed Twitter launch, reposting his criticism on her campaign account.

As anticipation built for the Trump-Musk conversation, European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton issued a warning to Musk, urging him to ensure X’s compliance with EU regulations, specifically the Digital Services Act, which addresses issues like disinformation. Trump’s campaign swiftly responded, dismissing the EU's concerns and asserting that the European body had no right to interfere in U.S. elections.

Musk, who once identified as a Democrat, publicly endorsed Trump’s candidacy just days after the former president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Musk’s political leanings have shifted in recent years, with his actions on X often leaning towards right-wing rhetoric. He has reinstated several controversial figures, including Trump and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and has been vocal against what he calls the “woke mind virus.”

Before his conversation with Musk, Trump released a video on his X account, featuring clips from his presidency and a message aimed at his supporters: “They’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you, and I’m just standing in their way.”

Trump’s presence on X dwarfs his following on his own platform, Truth Social. While Truth Social has around 7.5 million followers, Trump’s X account boasts 88 million followers. Musk’s account, which hosted the conversation, has over 193 million followers.

It remains unclear whether Trump will share the interview on his other social media platforms. His last post on X was a photo of his mug shot after surrendering to authorities in Atlanta on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.