Elon Musk’s highly anticipated interview with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was overshadowed by significant technical glitches that delayed the event by over 40 minutes. The interview, held on X, formerly known as Twitter, was designed to appeal to “open-minded independent voters,” according to Musk. However, the event got off to a rocky start as many users struggled to access the livestream, with Musk blaming the disruption on a distributed denial of services (DDoS) attack.
Musk, who owns X, Claims that it “saturated all of our data lines,” resulting in widespread access issues. Distributed denial of services attacks, or DDoS attacks, are a common cyber threat aimed at overwhelming a website’s resources, making it difficult or impossible for legitimate users to access the site. Although Musk’s claims have not been independently verified, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of digital platforms to such attacks, particularly during high-profile events.
Musk Reaffirms Support for Trump Despite Setbacks
Despite the technical glitches, the interview eventually proceeded, with Musk doubling down on his support for Trump and urging moderate voters to back the Republican candidate’s campaign. The conversation, which lasted nearly two hours, provided Trump with a platform to discuss a wide range of topics, including his views on immigration, education reform, and the state of the U.S. military.
Musk, who has become an increasingly influential figure in U.S. politics, expressed optimism about the future, stating, “Here’s to an exciting, inspiring future that people can look forward to and be optimistic and excited about what happens next.” The interview’s delayed start was reminiscent of a similar incident in May 2023, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign launch on X was marred by technical issues.
Technical Glitches Amid Cyberattack Claims Spark Debate
The cause of the technical glitches remains unclear, and experts have weighed in on the plausibility of Musk’s cyberattack claims. Anthony Lim, Director of the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and International Studies in Singapore, noted that a DDoS attack typically affects multiple services or features on a website, making it unlikely that only the livestream would be targeted. However, Andrew Hay from IT firm Damovo suggested that a targeted DDoS attack could have specifically impacted the broadcast portion of X’s service.
Musk’s platform has been under scrutiny for its handling of digital content, particularly in light of European Union regulations. Ahead of the interview, EU industry chief Thierry Breton reminded Musk that X must comply with EU digital content laws, which include measures against illegal content and disinformation. In response, X’s chief executive Linda Yaccarino criticized the EU’s stance as an overreach, arguing that it undermines the ability of European citizens to engage in political discourse.
As the conversation progressed, Musk reiterated his invitation to Vice President Kamala Harris to participate in a similar event on X, highlighting his platform’s commitment to political diversity. The interview marked Trump’s return to X after his account was reinstated in 2022, following his removal in the wake of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Despite the technical difficulties, the interview provided Trump with a valuable opportunity to reach a broad audience as he seeks to regain momentum in his re-election campaign.
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