Donald Trump is set to make a return to X, where he was banned for nearly two years following the Capitol siege on January 6, 2021. The former President will participate in a live interview on Monday night with X’s owner, Elon Musk. The conversation, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time, is described as “unscripted with no limits on subject matter,” with Musk encouraging X users to submit their questions.
The interview provides Trump with a chance to directly engage with potential voters and offers X, a platform centering on politics, an opportunity to boost its reputation after facing challenges. X has been the backdrop for significant moments in the 2024 election cycle, such as Trump’s alternative programming during the first GOP presidential debate and President Joe Biden’s campaign update letter posted on the platform last month.
Musk, who endorsed Trump’s candidacy shortly after an assassination attempt on the former president, has played a role in reshaping X’s political direction. He has shown a right-leaning stance through his posts, engaging in disputes over censorship and spreading controversial claims. Musk has also reinstated previously banned accounts like Alex Jones and Trump, who returned to the platform after Musk’s company acquisition in November 2022.
Despite operating his Truth Social site, Trump’s X account boasts a significantly larger following. While he has over 7.5 million followers on Truth Social, his somewhat inactive X account has 88 million followers. Musk, with more than 193 million followers, will host the upcoming interview with Trump on X, potentially drawing a substantial audience.
It remains to be seen if Trump will share the Musk interview across his own social media accounts. Trump’s recent X activity was limited to a post featuring his mug shot from an arrest in Atlanta a year ago. The event signifies a notable return for Trump to X, raising anticipation for the live conversation with Musk.
