Former US President Donald Trump declared that illegal immigration “saved my life” during a highly anticipated interview with Elon Musk on the social media platform X. The interview, initially scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time, faced delays due to a cyberattack but eventually aired with over a million listeners tuning in.
In the two-hour conversation, Trump and Musk covered a wide range of topics including immigration, the economy, education, climate change, and international relations involving leaders like Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. Musk, who has endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential election, acknowledged Trump’s support for the discussion despite the technical setbacks.
The interview began with a discussion about the assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump recalled that a chart on illegal immigration, which he rarely used, might have inadvertently saved his life. “Illegal immigration saved my life. You’re right,” Trump said, agreeing with Musk’s assessment.
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Trump elaborate on the incident, noting that the chart position in an unusual spot and use infrequently. He described the situation as a “miracle,” emphasizing the improbability of the circumstances and his belief that it was an act of divine intervention.
Undocumented Immigration
Throughout his 2024 re-election campaign, Trump has made undocumented immigration a central issue, criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for the surge at the southern border with Mexico.
The interview faced a significant delay due to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that overwhelmed X’s servers. Musk tweeted updates about the technical difficulties, stating that the attack had hindered the initial broadcast. Despite the challenges, Musk managed to reschedule the interview for 8:30 p.m. ET and promised to post the unedited audio immediately afterward.
Trump’s return to X, following a suspension in January 2021 that was lifted by Musk, has been marked by a significant increase in followers. As of August 2023, Trump has amassed over 88 million followers on X, compared to 7.5 million on Truth Social, his alternative social media platform. X boasts around 600 million monthly active users, far exceeding the 5 million monthly users of Truth Social.
Musk’s support for Trump and the high-profile nature of the interview ensure that it will be closely watched by both Trump’s allies and his political opponents, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Since Harris’s entry into the presidential race following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, she has energized the Democratic base and gained traction in key battleground states.
