EDITORIAL: Little in Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s love-in to worry Kamala Harris

It was a meeting of two men who wield enormous clout.

One wants to be president of the world’s biggest super-power and commands a loyal, perhaps even fanatical following, even amidst his seemingly endless run-ins with the law.

The other has access to a huge audience courtesy of his control of a modern communications tool with massive global reach.

And so when Donald Trump had a chat with X owner Elon Musk, millions tuned in.

But there was however little evidence that it was a meeting of brilliant minds.

It seemed more like two blokes at a bar swapping wild theories and trying to outdo each other with the most sweeping generalisations amid much mutual back-slapping.

And of course, there were the almost expected outbreaks of offensive and insulting observations about people they don’t like.

Embarrassingly for Musk, the highly anticipated interview was delayed by 45 minutes after technical issues, with Musk blaming a cyber-attack on X for the false start.

It then started on a deadly serious note as Musk asked Trump about the assassination attempt the Republican challenger survived.

Trump described the incident as “not pleasant”.

“There was blood. Lots of blood. I didn’t know I had that much blood,” he said.

“I knew immediately it was a bullet.

“In this case, it was the best alternative you could possibly think about,” referring to the bullet hitting his ear instead of his head.

“It was (a) hard hit.”

Musk replied: ”You would have been dead if you didn’t turn your head.”

“It’s a miracle,” Trump said.

From there Trump hit his familiar campaign lines such as illegal immigration, the economy, defence, nuclear power and the Democrats.

Trump took the opportunity to attack President Joe Biden as “close to vegetable stage”.

And of his new Democrat opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, he also aimed low: “She is a radical left lunatic,” Mr Trump said.

“If she is going to be president, you’re not going to have a country anymore.

“If you vote for her you ought to have your head examined.”

He bemoaned what he said was a lack of respect for modern America.

“Four years ago we (United States) were so respected,” he said. “I could say to Putin, don’t do it, it’s going to be a bad day.”

He claimed more people died from COVID under Biden than under his administration, and blamed Biden and Harris for the increase in illegal immigration.

“These people are fake. They are saying they did a good job with the border. There has never been a country that has had a catastrophe like this,” he said.

And Musk seemingly made a play for a job in any new Trump government.

No doubt the rusted-on Trumpers will have loved it. But there did not seem too much that Harris would be worried about, and plenty of places for her to attack.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor Christopher Dore