Musk and Trump's interview ends months of improving ties

There was no immediate spark of affection. Not too long ago, their relationship was far from amicable.

In a tweet posted in July 2022, Elon Musk expressed his opinion, stating that he does not harbor any hatred towards the individual in question. However, Musk believes it is now appropriate for Trump to retire from his current position and move on to a new chapter in his life.

Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and Space X, responded to Donald Trump's derogatory remark by bluntly accusing him of dishonesty. In a surprising turn, President Trump has leveled a serious accusation against Mr. Musk, claiming he was deceived about the tech mogul's voting preferences in the previous presidential election.

"Elon is not going to purchase Twitter," Trump proudly declared to a lively rally audience in Alaska.

Months later, Mr. Musk decided to acquire Twitter. Interestingly, he publicly supported Ron DeSantis, a prominent Republican figure who happened to be a direct competitor to Trump. The governor of Florida kicked off his presidential campaign with a chat on Twitter Spaces that was plagued with technical issues.

In recent months, the dynamic between Mr. Musk and Trump has transitioned from a frosty state to a pleasantly warm and consistent rapport.

On Monday, the two are set to have a meeting that is anticipated to be friendly and pleasant. Details regarding the specific time, format, and interview length remain undisclosed. However, there is a strong indication that the interview will be aired on Musk's recently renamed X.

Both individuals are likely aiming for a broader audience to engage in their conversation, hoping to break through the noise of the highly active paid users who currently dominate discussions on X. They also hope to avoid any technical issues that plagued Mr. DeSantis's unsuccessful campaign.

The long-standing connection between the tech tycoon and the Republican nominee has been developing for some time.

The color transitions from blue to red

Elon Musk, who obtained US citizenship in 2002, has stated that he has consistently voted for Democrats for a significant period.

However, his opinion of President Biden took a negative turn due to various issues, such as his opposition to unions and his feelings of being disregarded. Despite being one of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturers, Tesla was notably absent from the 2021 White House Electric Vehicle Summit guest list.

During the Biden administration, federal investigations were launched into Mr. Musk's companies regarding employment practices, his acquisition of Twitter, and allegations surrounding Tesla's autopilot feature.

In November 2023, during an interview with the New York Times, he expressed his reluctance to vote for Mr. Biden again yet refrained from endorsing Trump. He acknowledged the challenging decision and stressed the situation's complexity.

After acquiring the company, Mr. Musk revoked the ban on the former president's Twitter account.

His time at the company has allowed him to delve further into issues that align closely with Trump's campaign: government censorship and persecution, media criticism, opposition to immigration, and frustration with "woke" ideologies.

Ryan Broderick, author of the internet culture newsletter Garbage Day, described him as someone who seeks attention and displays political adaptability.

Mr. Broderick said Mr. Musk's online posts have significantly changed in recent years.

"According to the source, the individual's online presence took a significant turn in 2018. Before that, their tweets were characterized by a neoliberal and carefree tone, often featuring pride flags and similar content. However, a noticeable shift occurred after that," the informant revealed.

Ever since assuming control of Twitter, Mr. Musk has become more involved in political controversies, often sharing inflammatory and occasionally false news stories.

Amid the recent rioting in the UK, a heated exchange unfolded between him and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He boldly asserted that "civil war is inevitable" and proceeded to spread a misleading post regarding "detainment camps" on the Falkland Islands.

He also embraced Trump's unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud in the US.

According to research conducted by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Mr. Musk has tweeted false or misleading voting claims 50 times this year. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Musk had previously attempted to sue this organization, but the case was dismissed earlier this year.

He frequently engages with fringe, far-right figures, and pro-Trump accounts, expanding their influence on his platform.

Supporters of Trump in the tech industry

Additionally, his ties to Silicon Valley connect him closely to Trump's inner circle.

Elon Musk was part of the PayPal mafia, a group of individuals who made substantial profits when the payment processor was acquired for $1.5 billion. Following this success, they became influential investors and founders of various companies.

Peter Thiel, the founder of PayPal, has been a significant figure within the Republican party. He hired JD Vance at his venture capital firm, Mithril Capital Management. He later generously donated $10 million to support Vance's Ohio Senate campaign.

Elon Musk met with Donald Trump in March at the latter's Florida resort. According to reports from US news outlets, Mr. Musk recently hosted a dinner party that garnered attention for its notable guests, including Mr. Thiel and Rupert Murdoch. The event was described as having an "anti-Biden" theme.

In the past, Mr. Musk has donated to politicians from the Democratic and Republican parties. Despite his claims of not directly donating to any presidential campaign, he has recently co-founded a political action committee called America PAC, which supports President Trump.

Political action committees can allocate significant amounts of money to endorse candidates and promote causes. However, Mr. Musk has dismissed reports claiming that he will donate $45 million monthly to the PAC as exaggerated.

However, his backing of Trump was solidified immediately following last month's assassination attempt on the former president. In a tweet, he expressed his complete endorsement of President Trump and wished for his swift recovery.

It appears that Trump and Mr. Musk have reconciled their differences.

During a press briefing on Thursday, he expressed his deep admiration for Elon. According to the individual, there is a sense of respect towards them.

"Elon, in my opinion, surpasses the majority of individuals I have encountered..." According to Trump, he has a deep affection for this country and its ideals. However, he is concerned that, like himself, the nation is facing significant challenges and is in grave peril.

According to reports, Musk has gained a significant following among young, predominantly male supporters who may share similar ideas with Trump but are considered less consistent regarding voting.

The Trump campaign is targeting a specific demographic. In a recent interview, the former president sat down with Adin Ross, a podcaster known for his controversial reputation on Twitch streaming. Ross has faced multiple bans for violating the platform's conduct policies.

"Donald Trump is currently facing challenges as he seeks to revitalize his campaign," stated Mr. Broderick. "He possesses a flair for the dramatic and recognizes that Elon Musk shares a similar intuition."

However, he wondered whether the two would interact harmoniously in person.

"I anticipate a scenario where they engage in a conversation that may lack coherence," he remarked. "Perhaps someone will make an outrageous statement,"

The interview is set to be published online on Monday evening.