Records show that Elon Musk has been friendly with the Republican party for longer than initially thought.
Key Takeaways: Elon Musk’s Growing Role in Republican Politics
- Active Campaigning: Musk has actively campaigned for Donald Trump, appearing at rallies in Pennsylvania and promoting a narrative of Trump “preserving democracy”
- Voter Outreach Initiative: Musk’s America PAC offers a $47 bonus for voter referrals in key swing states to support Republican voter turnout efforts .
- Large Financial Backing: Through America PAC, Musk has spent $77 million in ads to support Trump’s re-election, in addition to significant contributions to groups tied to Stephen Miller and Ron DeSantis .
- Historical Donations: Musk’s financial backing of Republican causes started long before his public endorsement of Trump, dating back to early 2022.
What Is Elon Musk’s Involvement in the 2024 Presidential Run?
According to an investigation from the Wall Street Journal, he backed Republican candidates and conservative groups before he officially endorsed former President Donald Trump for the upcoming 2024 presidential race.
With an estimated net worth of $250 billion and his very own social media platform, Musk’s political endorsement is a big deal for whatever party or candidate he chooses to support. Moreover, his influence as a business and thought leader must also be considered in order to understand the kind of power he wields.
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As the owner of one of the largest social media platforms in the world, X, he can silently favor candidates, narratives, and political agendas by using content filters and tweaking the algorithm in favor of one party or the other.
In 2022, Musk reportedly funded an advertising campaign worth $50 million for a group called Citizens for Sanity. This non-profit had ties with a senior aide named Stephen Miller who served Trump during his first tenure and who was known for being socially conservative and for his strict views on immigration policies.
Moreover, the year after, Musk supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempt to run for president. Back then, he funneled the donation through a group called Faithful & Strong Policies. More than half of the money that went to that organization was ultimately channeled to a political action committee (PAC) that backed DeSantis which was called “Never Back Down”.
Elon Musk Uses “Dark Money” Organizations to Support Political Causes
Musk tried to keep his political alignment secret by association and working behind the curtain in partnership with secretive organizations that helped him to cover his tracks. He used limited liability companies (LLCs) to send money to “social welfare organizations.”
These entities are also known as “dark money” groups as they don’t have to disclose who their donors are and can raise as much money as they want.
One of the donations made by Musk that ended in the hands of Citizens for Sanity was first sent to Building America’s Future, a pro-business organization whose funding stats were propelled right around the time that Musk joined as a donor.
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The group reportedly raised over $53 million in 2022 – five times more than the year before – and sent $43 million to Citizens for Sanity.
Providing Funding to Anti-Woke Campaigns in Multiple States
Musk has used ads as a way to support the ideals and candidates he wants to endorse. He has focused most of the time on controversial issues like illegal immigration and medical care for transgender children. These ads were displayed widely in battleground states for Republicans and mostly attacked Democrats’ views on these subjects.
Statistics reveal that Citizens for Sanity spent most of its cash on advertisements aired during the 2022 midterm elections. The ads accused Democrats of promoting sex change surgeries for children and depicted immigrants as the leading cause of crime and economic hardship for the nation. These are all top talking points of the republican candidate for president, Donald Trump.
Others attacked elected officials from the Democratic party such as President Biden and Senator Mark Kelly (D – Arizona), among others.
For Musk, gender issues are really close to home. The Wall Street Journal reports that his transgender daughter cut ties with him just months before he sent money to Miller’s organization.
Musk said in an interview that he had “lost his son to the woke mind virus” as he signed documents that approved puberty blockers without knowing exactly what that meant at the time. This incident took place during the pandemic and he even went so far as to say that his “son is dead”.
Although the founder of Tesla (TSLA) was not initially a known Republican, he started to lean toward rightists views during the current administration as he disagreed with many of the policies coming out of Biden’s White House while his two most prominent companies, including SpaceX, received nearly no attention from the current administration.
Elon Musk Endorsed Trump Publicly This Year
The Democratic Party openly wants to take your freedom of speech under the guise of what THEY deem to be ’hate’ https://t.co/t7EPxAW5Tj
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 2, 2024
Back in 2016, Musk did not have positive opinions about Trump as he claimed that he did not have the kind of character that reflected “well on the United States.”
However, he started to change his views around 2022. Musk parting ways with Democrats seems natural considering his societal viewpoints on matters like abortion, gender rights, and immigration. Democrats are also starting to move to tax the rich more, including a plan to tax billionaires their fair share, so naturally he wants to avoid that.
In May this year, Musk launched the America PAC, an initiative that seeks to persuade over 800,000 voters to support Trump in multiple swing states. He told the group’s initial donors that he would provide most of the funds to support the group’s spending.
This entity has reportedly spent $77 million thus far on a massive advertising campaign that aims to incentivize infrequent voters to take action and support Trump during the upcoming election.
Moreover, in August 2024, Musk made direct donations to the Republican party. The National Republican Congressional Committee reportedly received $289,100 from him – the largest donation made to a party committee ever.
Elon Musk’s Campaigning for Trump: A Growing Role in 2024
As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, Elon Musk has taken on a more public role in campaigning for Donald Trump.
His appearance at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in October 2024 marked his most aggressive public step in backing Trump’s bid for re-election. During this rally, Musk emphasized the importance of the upcoming election, urging attendees to “vote, vote, vote,” and warning that the election outcome could have a lasting impact on the future of America’s political environment.
Musk’s enthusiasm for Trump was evident as he appeared on stage wearing a MAGA hat and engaged directly with the crowd, emphasizing his support for preserving “free speech” and “the Constitution.” Musk’s involvement is expected to ramp up further, with plans to visit swing states in the final weeks leading up to Election Day.
Voter Referral and Bonus Program to Boost Swing State Participation
In addition to his public appearances, Musk has also launched an ambitious voter outreach program through his America PAC, which offers individuals $47 for every swing state voter they refer to a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. This initiative is focused on key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, all crucial to securing a victory for Trump .
Sign our petition in defense of YOUR Constitutional rights to Free Speech & Bear Arms!
Goal is to get 1M voters in swing states to sign this petition.
For each registered swing state voter you refer that signs the petition, you get $47!https://t.co/PgHAgrmrv8
— America (@america) October 6, 2024
The referral program, which has been widely promoted on Musk’s social media platform X, has sparked controversy. Critics argue that while it may not directly violate vote-buying laws, it creates a pay-for-play dynamic in voter engagement. This initiative is seen as part of Musk’s broader strategy to leverage his financial resources to influence voter turnout (
Massive Financial Contributions to Republican Causes
Musk’s influence extends far beyond his social media posts and public appearances. Through his America PAC, he has funneled tens of millions of dollars into pro-Trump efforts. In fact, his financial support of Republican causes began well before his public endorsement of Trump, with Musk making early donations to groups tied to Stephen Miller and Ron DeSantis in 2022 ..
Most recently, America PAC has ramped up spending, with over $77 million allocated to a massive ad campaign designed to sway infrequent voters to support Trump. This financial backing, combined with Musk’s influence as a business leader and the owner of X, puts him in a unique position to shape the outcome of the 2024 election .
Social Media and Political Messaging on X
Musk’s ownership of X has also given him a powerful platform to shape political discourse. Since acquiring the platform (formerly known as Twitter), Musk has used X to amplify pro-Trump content, promote his America PAC initiatives, and engage directly with his 200 million followers.
Posts related to his voter referral program and other political initiatives have garnered widespread attention, further cementing his role as a key player in Republican efforts .
His social media influence also extends to controlling the narrative by leveraging content filters and algorithmic tweaks, giving Musk the ability to subtly promote or suppress content aligned with his political views.
Wealth Clearly Gives You a Seat at The Table. Is This Fair?
Elon Musk‘s extensive financial contributions to Republican causes, combined with his large social media following, make him one of the most influential figures in US politics. However, his track record in backing winners has been mixed at best.
DeSantis exited the presidential race before the first primary and most of the ads placed by Citizens for Sanity aired in battleground states in the run-up to bad midterm elections for Republicans.
Meanwhile, his political involvement raises questions about the influence of wealthy individuals in American politics and the role of “dark money” in shaping public opinion and election outcomes.
As one of the world’s richest individuals, Musk’s financial contributions have the potential to significantly impact campaigns and public discourse on several issues.
Elon Musk’s journey from a tech entrepreneur who seemed politically neutral to a major Republican donor highlights how rapidly things can change when money, personal interests, and politics intersect.
His substantial contributions to conservative causes, often made through complex and opaque financial arrangements, demonstrate how wealthy individuals can wield a kind of power that the average citizen does not even suspect exist.
As Musk continues to increase his political involvement, including his recent support for Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, his actions and comments will likely be heavily scrutinized and followed by his fans and detractors.
What seems clear is that Musk will no longer stay silent on these matters and may be planning to become a more prominent voice in the US political landscape in future cycles.