Former President Donald Trump, during one of his latest interviews, strangely compared the appearance of Vice President Kamala Harris to that of his wife, Melania Trump, the former first lady. The two-hour interview took place with Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and tech billionaire, on X Spaces. It was meant to be a revolutionary discussion but instead evolved into a disorderly and uncomfortable event.
The conversation was initially postponed by 40 minutes due to technical issues. It began with Musk asking Trump for his thoughts on the current political situation. In characteristic fashion, Trump did not mince his words. He launched a blistering critique of Harris, branding her an inadequate leader and questioning her capability to manage global matters. “We need smart people, and people that have the ability to lead. She doesn’t have that ability. Can you imagine her with Chairman Xi [Jinping]?” Trump stated distinctly lisping.
Musk, who maintained a largely agreeable demeanor throughout the interview, responded with a light, “It would be silly.” Trump, undeterred, continued his rant, reinforcing his criticism of Harris. He repeated, “She is terrible, she is terrible. She’s getting a free ride.”
In an abrupt and unusual shift, Trump started to compliment Harris’ appearance, drawing a surprising comparison between her and Melania. “I saw a picture of her on Time Magazine today. She looks like the most beautiful actress ever to live,” Trump commented. The Time Magazine cover he referenced features Harris, with the headline highlighting her campaign as “the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.”
Continuing without hesitation, Trump added, “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” His unexpected appreciation for Harris’ looks seemed to surprise even Musk, prompting a brief, awkward chuckle from the tech tycoon. “Yeah…” Musk responded, seemingly unsure of how to steer the conversation. Trump then stated, “She didn’t look like Camilla,” deliberately mispronouncing Harris’ name before concluding, “Of course, she’s a beautiful woman and we’ll leave it at that.”
Eager to redirect the conversation, Musk attempted to change the subject, launching into a discourse about the American dream and the importance of free speech. Musk, who identifies himself as a “free speech absolutist,” pledged to use his platform, X, to combat what he terms the “woke mind virus.” However, the interview didn’t concentrate on policy or substantial issues, as Trump repeatedly sidestepped serious questions, favoring familiar soundbites and attacks on his political rivals instead.
Throughout the conversation, Trump offered little in the form of policy discussion, instead choosing his usual rhetoric, which, according to a fact-check article published by CNN, included over 20 false assertions. Among these were his claims that Venezuela is sending criminals to the United States and that the sea level will rise only an eighth of an inch every 400 years—both easily refutable statements according to experts.
Trump also availed the opportunity to once again express his admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claiming that Kim “really likes me” after they shared a meal. He described Kim as the “absolute boss” of North Korea, a comment that Musk did not challenge.
The interview was filled with instances where Trump lauded Musk, labeling him the “greatest cutter” for his readiness to dismiss employees who grumbled about working conditions. Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential run, engaged with these remarks but remained mostly neutral, offering little in terms of critique or challenge to Trump’s comments.
As the interview concluded, Musk extended an invitation to Harris, offering her the chance to appear on X Spaces for a similar discussion.
In reaction to the interview, Harris’ campaign team issued a harsh statement, labeling both Trump and Musk as “self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.” This stringent criticism underscores the tension and profound divisions that mark the current political atmosphere.
Although the interview may not have fulfilled its original aim as a groundbreaking conversation, it certainly added another episode to the continuing saga of Trump’s unpredictable and often contentious public appearances.