Trump's Interview with Musk on X Platform Marred by Technical Issues
Trump's return to social media faced technical hurdles on X platform. Musk and Trump's live interview delayed due to login issues. EU cautionary response to Musk regarding harmful content dissemination.
However, over 40 minutes past the start time, many users encountered error messages preventing them from joining the live interview. A message simply stated, "Details not available." Trump's team attributed the issue to an overwhelming number of listeners trying to log in.
The interview aimed to provide the former president with a direct line to potentially millions of voters. It also served as a chance for X, a platform with a strong political focus, to recover from past difficulties.
In a previous incident in May 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faced technical glitches when he used the platform to announce his presidential bid. The rollout was marred by over 400,000 people attempting to join, causing an overload.
Ahead of the conversation with Trump, Musk mentioned that X was conducting system scaling tests to accommodate the expected high volume of participants. However, Trump supporters expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome.
Conservative commentator Glenn Beck voiced his frustration, saying, "Not available????? I planned my whole day around this." Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman also chimed in, urging Musk to address the joining issues.
The upcoming interview drew a cautious response from Europe. Thierry Breton, a French business executive and EU commissioner, warned Musk about the potential spread of harmful content during the interview. Breton urged Musk to ensure X's compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act.
In response, Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticised the EU, stating they should focus on their affairs rather than interfering in the U.S. Presidential election. Cheung labelled the EU as an opponent of free speech without the authority to dictate campaign practices.
Musk, who previously identified as a Democrat, endorsed Trump's candidacy shortly after an attempted assassination on the former president. Musk's political stance on the platform has shifted towards the right, influencing global political discussions.
In preparation for the interview, Trump shared a video on his X account featuring footage from his time in office and a familiar campaign line. Despite his preference for his Truth Social site, Trump's audience on X surpasses that of Truth Social significantly.
As the interview unfolded, Trump's campaign remained silent on whether the interview would be shared across his various accounts, including on X. Trump's recent posts on X have been sporadic, with one notable post featuring his mug shot from a year ago after surrendering on charges related to his election loss.
Trump's return to social media faced technical hurdles on X platform
Musk and Trump's live interview delayed due to login issues
EU cautionary response to Musk regarding harmful content dissemination
Source: AP News