Former President Donald Trump and billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk chewed over several key 2024 election issues during their much-anticipated X discussion on Monday.
More than 1.2 million users of Musk’s social media platform tuned in to the interview — billed as a “conversation” or a “chat” — and heard the Republican nominee for president and the tech titan put their heads together on immigration, foreign policy, inflation, government spending and energy issues.
Trump, 78, also lobbed several barbs at the Harris-Walz ticket after Musk, 53, noted that the X Spaces event was “aimed at open-minded, independent voters just trying to make up their mind” with less than three months to go before Election Day.
Border crisis
The crisis at the besieged southern border was the first major election issue the pair discussed.
“We’re already overwhelmed, Elon,” Trump told Musk, referring to the record-breaking migrant surge.
“You had to see the news tonight about New York, New York, and I love that place, and what they’re doing to it is horrible,” the former president and Queens native continued of his hometown.
“They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from Asia. They’re coming from the Middle East. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from everywhere, and there are a lot of really bad ones,” Trump said of the more than 8 million migrants who have entered the country under President Biden.
Trump pinned the blame on Vice President Kamala Harris, charging that as “border czar” under Biden, she could’ve closed the US-Mexico border.
“She could close [the border] up right now,” Trump said, calling his 2024 opponent “all talk.”
“She tries to pretend she’s going to do something … she’s had three and a half years,” he continued.
“She was the border czar, and people can’t allow them to get away with their disinformation campaign,” Trump insisted to Musk, referring to Harris’ recent attempts to distance herself from the border czar label.
Skyrocketing inflation
The 45th president also decried the state of the economy under Biden and Harris at several points during his talk with Musk, focusing on the record price increases under the administration.
“If you’re just a middle-income person, you can’t afford it,” he said of the toll of inflation on average Americans.
“You know, four years ago, five years ago, people were saving a lot of money. Today, they’re using all that money and borrowing money just to live,” Trump argued. “It’s a horrible thing that is happening.
‘Radical left lunatics’
The Republican presidential hopeful blasted Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as “radical” progressives — warning voters that the country would be “dangerous” under their leadership.
“She is considered more liberal by far than Bernie Sanders. She’s a radical left lunatic,” he said of his rival.
“And if she’s going to be our president, very quickly, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” he continued.