Elon Musk's Support for Donald Trump

By Helen Coster and Alexandra Ulmer

(Reuters) – U.S. billionaire Elon Musk has leveraged his X social media platform and wealth to significantly support Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s reelection efforts, surpassing traditional political megadonor actions.

Musk, aged 53, who previously voted for Democratic candidates, has leaned more right during this election campaign, officially endorsing Trump in July and appearing with him in Pennsylvania this month.

Should Trump be reelected, Musk has been promised a position heading a government efficiency commission, which he believes will help eliminate regulations that hinder business and economic growth. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X, holds numerous government contracts and faces stringent regulations regarding consumer and environmental protections.

Neither Musk nor Kamala Harris’s campaign responded to comments regarding his backing of Trump.

Financial Contributions to America PAC

Musk's pro-Trump group, America PAC, is actively mobilizing and registering voters in key battleground states potentially pivotal for the election. Forbes ranks Musk as the world’s richest person—he has reportedly contributed at least $75 million to this political action committee, as per federal disclosures.

America PAC spent around $72 million in the July-September quarter, the highest expenditure among pro-Trump super PACs focused on voter turnout. Despite its spending, the PAC is experiencing challenges in certain battleground states concerning its door-knocking goals and allegations of misleading claims made by canvassers.

Promotion via X Platform

Musk utilizes his platform, now amassing over 202 million followers since his acquisition in October 2022, to promote Trump. Some of his posts align with misinformation, suggesting dubious claims about election integrity.

For instance, he echoed incorrect narratives about undocumented voters and shared a deepfake video that depicted Vice President Kamala Harris in a controversial light. Musk has also been openly critical of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, suggesting they equate to racism.

Since 2016, social media has faced scrutiny regarding its role in elections, especially following Russian interference in the 2016 election. After Musk's takeover of Twitter, concerns have risen about increased hate speech and misinformation stemming from reduced content moderation.

Musk's platform may label posts containing misleading media or remove them if they pose serious harm risk, yet research indicates persistent misinformation spread through the X platform, partly due to Musk's endorsements.

Daily Cash Giveaways

Musk is executing a plan to give away $1 million daily to individuals who sign his online petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This initiative targets registered voters in seven critical battleground states and raises questions about its compliance with election laws, with critics suggesting it aims to bolster Trump’s support.

Promotional video interviews showcasing the winners are widely shared on Musk’s X platform.

Campaign Activities

In October, Musk joined Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, the location of a prior attack on Trump, and returned for further campaign appearances less than two weeks later. During his Pennsylvania tour, Musk repeated false allegations about election fraud coinciding with Trump’s previous claims.

He encouraged supporters to utilize his platform to report any observed election discrepancies, advocating for public documentation of potential fraud with imagery and video evidence.