Watch/Listen live:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024
* * *
Update (0830ET): After twenty minutes and countless refresh attempts, we’re all facing the same issue: the Trump-Musk X Spaces is unavailable.
If that’s because X is overloaded or, as Musk posted on X, “appears to be a massive DDOS attack on 𝕏,” the billionaire’s conversation with Trump appears to be delayed.
We tested the system with 8 million concurrent listeners earlier today https://t.co/ymqGBFEJX0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2024
Hmm.
Yeah
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2024
Musk noted, “We will proceed with the smaller number of concurrent listeners at 8:30 ET and then post the unedited audio immediately thereafter.”
We will proceed with the smaller number of concurrent listeners at 8:30 ET and then post the unedited audio immediately thereafter https://t.co/oxF8PsNHnZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2024
* * *
Musk explains why he calls it a ‘conversation’…
My use of the word conversation is deliberate.
This is so that people understand how @realDonaldTrump talks when it’s a conversation, rather than an interview.
Nobody is quite themselves in an interview, so it’s hard to understand what they’re really like. https://t.co/H6G0RuwIM4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2024
But, just hours before the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, and former president Donald Trump are set to ‘break the internet’ with a live-stream on X Spaces, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has thrown a temper tantrum, seemingly mad at Musk’s unwillingness to bend the knee at his censorious demands by daring to allow ‘orange-man-bad-literally-hitler’ speak on the only uncensored platform that remains.
Specifically, Breton wrote “I am compelled to remind you of the due diligence obligations set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA),” adding that:
“This notably means ensuring… that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming, which, if unaddressed, might increase the risk profile of X and generate detrimental effects on civic discourse and public security.”
The DSA is a NATO censorship law that is designed to stop the spread of populist parties in the West, according to cyber security expert Mike Benz.
Why is the EU threatening Elon Musk and X to censor tonight’s live event with Trump?
Why does the EU feel comfortable demanding censorship in a US election to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA)?
What even is the DSA?
Watch Mike Benz explain ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RFWn1wNFIS
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) August 12, 2024
Breton went on to threaten to use the full “toolbox” of measures to protect EU citizens from “serious harm.”
“My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA and will not hesitate to use the full use of our toolbox, including by adopting interim measures, if it be warranted to protect EU citizens from serious harm,” he said.
“With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton wrote on X, Monday.
“As there is a risk of amplification of potentially harmful content in [the EU] in connection with events with major audience around the world, I sent this letter to Elon Musk,” Breton added.
In response to Breton’s letter, Musk simply posted “Bonjour!”
In a subsequent post, he added:
“To be honest, I really wanted to respond with this Tropic Thunder meme, but I would NEVER do something so rude & irresponsible!”
And so with that, it seems Musk is refusing to follow Breton’s orders and daring to amplify the voice of one of the two candidates for the US presidential election in November. Notably, the letters US do not equal EU…
“As the relevant content is accessible to EU users and being amplified also in our jurisdiction, we cannot exclude potential spillovers in the EU,” Breton wrote.
“Therefore, we are monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political – or societal – events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections.”
The EU accused X in July of violating the DSA, stating that Musk’s verification policy on the platform can be used to deceive other users, CBS News reported. Musk removed verification badges, otherwise known as the blue check, from all verified accounts of people deemed noteworthy and currently charges $8 for anyone to receive a blue check.
“This is an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the U.S.,” X CEO Linda Yaccarino said in response to the letter on the platform.
“It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions.”
Breton thus created a round of media coverage suggesting that the prestigious European Union has identified Trump as a purveyor of hate speech and disinformation. And yet the interview has not yet occurred, Breton presents no evidence that Trump will be a source of disinformation or hate speech, and there is no evidence of any link whatsoever between Trump and the recent riots in Britain.
As such, Public’s Michael Shellenberger point out Breton’s letter could constitute a form of foreign interference in the upcoming US presidential elections.
Breton is, without justification, using the recent riots in Britain to demand censorship in the U.S.
In a normal time, the White House should issue a formal protest to the EU over Breton’s threats, and the Department of Justice should open an investigation. However, given that the Biden Administration is unlikely to do that, Congress should consider its own investigation.
Oh, and there’s this fucking douchenozzle from WaPo…
This so-called reporter from the Washington Post just had the audacity to ask Karine Jean-Pierre if the Biden regime could INTERFERE and block Trump’s interview with Elon Musk on 𝕏.
Are you freaking kidding me?! pic.twitter.com/BF0E7IsX15
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 12, 2024
As LibertyNation’s Sarah Cowgill concludes, a potential 193 million folks – a mix of elite media and curiosity seekers – could tune in to the X platform to watch the titans make a plan for America, talk smack about Harris and Walz, or compare golf scores – or whatever it is they end up talking about. It could be eye-opening and meaningful, or maybe this interview will be a nothing burger. Either way, the billionaires playing America-Monopoly with real money will at least be entertaining.
Watch/Listen live:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024
As a potential crib sheet for the discussion, a number of conservative X users posted the following list:
President Trump’s 20 Core Promises To Make America Great Again
1. SEAL THE BORDER AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION
2. CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY
3. END INFLATION, AND MAKE AMERICA AFFORDABLE AGAIN
4. MAKE AMERICA THE DOMINANT ENERGY PRODUCER IN THE WORLD, BY FAR!
5. STOP OUTSOURCING, AND TURN THE UNITED STATES INTO MANUFACTURING SUPERPOWER
6. LARGE TAX CUTS FOR WORKERS, AND NO TAX ON TIPS!
7. DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR BILL OF RIGHTS, AND OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, AND THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
8. PREVENT WORLD WAR THREE, RESTORE PEACE IN EUROPE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND BUILD A GREAT IRON DOME MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD OVER OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY – ALL MADE IN AMERICA
9. END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
10. STOP THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC, DEMOLISH THE FOREIGN DRUG CARTELS, CRUSH GANG VIOLENCE, AND LOCK UP VIOLENT OFFENDERS
11. REBUILD OUR CITIES, INCLUDING WASHINGTON DC, MAKING THEM SAFE, CLEAN, AND BEAUTIFUL AGAIN
12. STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE OUR MILITARY, MAKING IT, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD
13. KEEP THE U.S. DOLLAR AS THE WORLD’S RESERVE CURRENCY
14. FIGHT FOR AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WITH NO CUTS, INCLUDING NO CHANGES TO THE RETIREMENT AGE
15. CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE AND CUT COSTLY AND BURDENSOME REGULATIONS
16. CUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANY SCHOOL PUSHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY, AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE RACIAL, SEXUAL, OR POLITICAL CONTENT ON OUR CHILDREN
17. KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS
18. DEPORT PRO-HAMAS RADICALS AND MAKE OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES SAFE AND PATRIOTIC AGAIN
19. SECURE OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING SAME DAY VOTING, VOTER IDENTIFICATION, PAPER BALLOTS, AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
20. UNITE OUR COUNTRY BY BRINGING IT TO NEW AND RECORD LEVELS OF SUCCESS
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT pic.twitter.com/yJZmAaahs0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024
* * *
As we detailed earlier, former President Donald Trump is preparing for tonight’s highly anticipated interview on the X platform with Elon Musk, which is expected to be an ‘internet-breaking’ event.
Trump getting ready to join Elon on X Spaces and dunk on Kamala 😆 pic.twitter.com/OXOpZ641zv
— Adam Lowisz (@AdamLowisz) August 12, 2024
The interview on X is set to begin live-streaming at 8 pm EST. Musk wrote on X, “This is unscripted with no limits on subject matter, so should be highly entertaining!”
This is unscripted with no limits on subject matter, so should be highly entertaining!
If you have specific questions & comments, post them under the chat.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2024
The world’s richest man noted, “If you have specific questions & comments, post them under the chat.”
Entertainment guaranteed! https://t.co/5oR7YLVQr6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2024
On Sunday evening, Musk launched multiple stream tests, garnering millions of views to ensure X’s backend systems are ready for scaling ahead of tonight’s conversation.
Test preparations followed the May 2023 streaming event on X between Musk and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which suffered multiple technical difficulties.
Despite Trump’s posting to only Truth Social, the former president has finally returned to X around 1120 ET. Trump’s last post on X dates back to August 2023.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024
And another.
ENJOY! pic.twitter.com/un0WwfJlpw
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024
In the days following the attempted assassination of Trump at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally in mid-July, Musk endorsed Trump. With that came Trump’s U-turn on electric vehicles as well, declaring: “I’m for electric cars; I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So, I have no choice.”
Musk and his entourage of tech VCs have for decades supported Democrats, if that’s Obama, Clinton, and Biden. But in recent years, especially for Musk, he has declared war on the ‘ woke mind virus‘ and Marxism pushed by Democrats. Furthermore, Musk believes in secured borders and law and order in cities – something the Trump ticket supports at the very core level. Yet, VP Harris supports a radical far-left agenda (an extension of Biden’s) of open borders (hence her failed position as ‘Border Czar’), and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her running mate, has had a horrendous response record during BLM riots.
The Washington Post said VP Harris has no public events scheduled on Monday. She and her team will likely be tuning in to the event, as keyboard warriors on both sides of the political aisle will engage in a meme war on X during the interview.
VP Harris has yet to give a press interview since she was catapulted to the top of the Democratic ticket. The reason likely stems from her poor debating skills, hence why she cannot go off script of the real VP Harris will be revealed. She must have a teleprompter nearby to speak coherently.
We are watching a movie and the rerun at the same time!🤣 pic.twitter.com/SHB8FHU32E
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) August 9, 2024
The interview with Musk and Trump, unscripted, is yet another sign legacy ‘far left’ corporate media is dying as the next-gen media rises from the ashes this election cycle. It’s only a matter of time before presidential debates will be held on X.