In a bold and informal twist to political forecasting, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stirred the pot on X with a provocative poll pitting Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump as potential candidates for the next U.S. presidency. Dubbed an ‘unscientific’ ballot, Musk insisted he was merely responding to the buzz reverberating among his millions of followers. The results? A staggering 3.4 million votes tallied, painting a vibrant picture: Trump surged ahead with 75.2% support, while Harris garnered 24.8%. With the post gaining a staggering 28.8 million views and flying across the digital expanse with nearly 74,000 shares, it was evident that the poll sparked significant engagement among users.
Intrigued by the matchup, many expressed their preferences in the comments. While the chorus leaned towards Trump, some sought a broader spectrum, with one user lamenting, “Where’s the ‘Kennedy’ option?” highlighting a desire for other voices, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to join the fray. Another user cut to the chase, quipping, “Trump or our country is toast,” showcasing the high stakes perceived by many voters.
In contrast to the spontaneous wildness of Musk’s poll, a more structured poll reported by The Washington Post revealed a tighter contest: a Roanoke College survey had Harris ahead with 47%, just nudging out Trump’s 44%. The report painted a picture of tumult as many voters viewed Trump as a looming “threat to democracy,” adding depth to the electoral narrative.
Just days prior, on August 13, 2024, Musk facilitated a compelling interview with Trump on Spaces, unleashing an ‘unscripted’ dialogue that promised an uncut exploration of political thoughts. Amid initial technical hiccups, an eager audience was listening in on Trump’s criticisms of Harris’s immigration policies, where he painted the Vice President as ineffective, claiming, “You have millions of people coming in a month,” while accusing the Biden administration of leaving the borders unguarded with “20 million illegal immigrants” lurking within the shadows of the nation.
As the landscape of American politics holds its breath, with every tweet, poll, and interview ricocheting through the spheres of influence, the fervor surrounding the 2024 presidential race promises to be anything but mundane.
