Trump Attacks Democrats on Border, Inflation in Interview with Elon Musk

Former President Donald Trump and billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk discussed several key issues related to the 2024 election on Monday during a highly anticipated “X” discussion.

More than 1.2 million users of Musk’s social media platform watched the interview — described as a “conversation” or “chat” — and heard the Republican presidential candidate and the tech giant discuss immigration, foreign policy, inflation, government spending and energy issues.

Trump, 78, also had some sarcastic remarks towards Harris-Walz after Musk, 53, noted that the X Spaces event was “aimed at open-minded, independent voters who are just trying to make up their minds” less than three months before Election Day.

Border crisis

The crisis on the besieged southern border was the first major election issue the two men discussed.

“We are already overwhelmed, Elon,” Trump told Musk, referring to the record surge in migrants.

“You should have watched the news tonight about New York, New York. I love this place. What they’re doing to it is awful,” the former president and Queens resident continued, talking about his hometown.

“They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from Asia. They’re coming from the Middle East. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from everywhere, and there are a lot of really bad ones,” Trump said of the more than 8 million migrants who have arrived in the country under Biden’s presidency.

Trump placed the blame on Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that as Biden’s “border czar” she could have closed the U.S.-Mexico border.

“She could close (the border) right now,” Trump said, calling his 2024 opponent a “talker.”

“She’s trying to pretend she’s going to do something… she’s had three and a half years to do it,” he continued.

“She was the border czarina, and people cannot allow her to run a disinformation campaign with impunity,” Trump told Musk, referring to Harris’ recent attempts to distance herself from the border czar label.

Rapidly rising inflation

The 45th president, during his call with Musk, repeatedly criticized the state of the economy under Biden and Harris, focusing on record price increases during the administration’s term.

“If you’re a middle-income person, you can’t afford it,” he said, referring to the impact of inflation on the average American.

“You know, four years ago, five years ago, people were saving a lot of money. Today, they’re using all that money and borrowing money to just live,” Trump argued. “It’s a terrible thing that’s happening.

“Inflation was caused by oil,” he said at another point in the conversation, suggesting that if Russia had not invaded Ukraine; Hamas had not attacked Israel; and the U.S. had not abandoned Afghanistan — prices would have been lower.

Disastrous foreign policy

Trump warned that the leaders of North Korea, Russia and China are “at the peak of their powers” ​​and said Harris is unable to stand up to them.

“I know (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. I know President Xi (Jinping). I know Kim Jong-un,” he said. “They are at the top of their game; they are tough; they are smart; they are cruel — and they will protect their country.

“When they see Kamala or Joe sleeping, they can’t believe it,” he speculated.

He also addressed Iran, saying the US adversary “would not attack” if he were president.

Tehran is suspected of planning a revenge attack for the recent killings of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

“I don’t want to do anything bad to Iran,” the former president said. “But they knew not to mess around. Iran was broke.”

The former president specifically criticized Biden for saying Ukraine could become a NATO country and said Putin would not have invaded Ukraine without Biden’s rhetoric.

“You know, Biden did something with Russia. There was no way he was ever going to get in. And when I left, and then after I left, they started forming big armies on the border with Ukraine, right? And I looked at it and I thought he was doing it because Putin is a good negotiator. I thought he was doing it to negotiate,” he said.

Trump also reaffirmed his support for the idea of ​​​​creating an Iron Dome in the United States, modeled on Israel, arguing that it could provide sufficient protection for the country from foreign players.

“We will have the best Iron Dome in the world,” the presidential candidate promised.

“We will have protection.”

Growing government spending

Trump expressed support for appointing Musk to a commission that would monitor “excessive government spending” after the Tesla and SpaceX founder floated the idea.

“I think it would be great to have a government efficiency commission to make sure taxpayer money is being spent well,” Musk said.

“I will be happy to help with such an assignment,” he added.

Trump responded that he would “love it” to have Musk serve on such a panel.

“You’re the best cutter,” the former president told the entrepreneur.

Later, while talking about government spending and inflation, Musk compared the U.S. to Venezuela.

“Radical leftist lunatics”

The Republican presidential candidate criticized Harris and her vice presidential running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, calling them “radical” progressives — warning voters that the country would be “dangerous” under their leadership.

“She’s seen as a lot more liberal than Bernie Sanders. She’s a radical left-wing nutcase,” he said of his rival.

“And if she becomes our president, and very soon, we will no longer have a country,” he continued.

“He’ll go back to everything he believes in. He believes in defunding the police. He believes in no fracking, zero.”

Trump warned that the United States was “becoming a very dangerous place” under Democratic leadership — and could spiral under Harris, who “is a radical left-wing liberal from San Francisco.”

The former president called Walz dangerous.

“(Harris’) vice presidential candidate, he passed, signed into law, tampons in men’s restrooms,” Trump said of the Minnesota governor.

“That means she believes it too,” he argued.

Trump called Walz an “anti-Israel, radical leftist” who is also “significantly worse” than socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

“If he becomes president… I don’t think our country will survive.”