Former President Donald Trump’s interview took an unexpected turn when he bizarrely compared Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance to that of his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump. The comments were made during a conversation with the richest man in the world, tech billionaire Elon Musk, on X Spaces, which was meant to be a game-changing interview but instead became a chaotic and awkward two-hour event.

The interview, initially delayed by 40 minutes due to technical issues, began with Musk asking Trump about his thoughts on the current political landscape. Trump, as usual, did not hold back. He launched into a scathing critique of Harris, calling her a “terrible” leader and questioning her ability to handle global affairs. “We need smart people, and people that have the ability to lead. She doesn’t have that ability. Can you imagine her with Chairman Xi [Jinping]?” Trump said, his voice carrying a distinct lisp.

Musk, who maintained a mostly agreeable demeanor throughout the interview, responded with a light, “It would be silly.” Trump, unfazed, continued his tirade, doubling down on his criticism of Harris. “She is terrible, she is terrible,” he repeated. “She’s getting a free ride.”

Then, in a sudden and odd shift, Trump began praising Harris’ appearance, drawing an unlikely comparison between her and Melania. “I saw a picture of her on Time Magazine today. She looks like the most beautiful actress ever to live,” Trump remarked. The Time Magazine cover he referenced features Harris, with the headline touting her campaign as “the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.” 

Without missing a beat, Trump continued, “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” His unexpected admiration for Harris’ looks seemed to catch even Musk off guard, prompting a brief, awkward chuckle from the tech mogul. “Yeah…” Musk responded, seemingly unsure how to navigate the conversation. Trump then added, “She didn’t look like Camilla,” purposely mispronouncing Harris’ name before concluding, “Of course, she’s a beautiful woman and we’ll leave it at that.”

Musk, perhaps eager to steer the conversation back on track, attempted to shift the discussion, diving into a monologue about the American dream and the importance of free speech. Musk has positioned himself as a “free speech absolutist” and vowed to use his platform, X, to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.” However, the interview did little to focus on policy or substantive issues, as Trump repeatedly deflected serious questions, preferring to indulge in familiar soundbites and attacks on his political adversaries.

Throughout the interview, Trump offered little in the way of policy discussion, instead opting for his usual rhetoric, which, according to a fact-check article published by CNN, included more than 20 false claims. Among these were his assertions that Venezuela is sending criminals to the United States and that the ocean will rise only an eighth of an inch every 400 years—both statements easily debunked by experts.

Trump also took the opportunity to once again express his admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying that Kim “really likes me” after the two shared dinner. He described Kim as the “absolute boss” of North Korea, a phrase that drew no pushback from Musk.

The interview was peppered with moments where Trump praised Musk, calling him the “greatest cutter” for his willingness to fire employees who complained about working conditions. Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, engaged with these comments but remained mostly neutral, offering little in the way of critique or challenge to Trump’s statements.

As the interview wrapped up, Musk extended an invitation to Harris, offering her the opportunity to appear on X Spaces for a similar conversation.

In response to the interview, Harris’ campaign team issued a scathing statement, calling both Trump and Musk “self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.” This sharp rebuke highlights the tension and deep divides that characterize the current political climate.

While the interview may not have lived up to its billing as a game-changing conversation, it certainly added another chapter to the ongoing saga of Trump’s unpredictable and often controversial public appearances. As the 2024 election approaches, moments like these will likely continue to shape the narrative and provide fodder for both supporters and critics alike.